New Approaches to the Design of a Lunar Station for Servicing Automatic and Manned Spacecraft

The purpose of the study was to tackle the problem of creating an orbiting lunar station in a circular low orbit with an altitude of 100 ... 150 km. The study shows that this task should be considered not as the advantage-disadvantage ratio but as the development of a specific design solution - in a methodological design approach. Meanwhile, it is necessary to take into account the strategic importance of the orbiting lunar station for the entire process of the exploration of the Moon. The station should be created not only for manned expeditions but also for automatic spacecraft. The paper describes the methodological approaches to the design of space stations, namely the design methods which imply opportunities and tasks identification, gives examples of applying these methods, points out their shortcomings, including the lack of accounting for changes in design problems. As a result of studying the problem, we propose a design method that takes into account the dynamics of changing the tasks of the designed object, i.e. the tasks that arise during the Moon exploration. The study gives an enlarged description of the method, where the starting point is many different scenarios for the design of an object, i.e. the orbiting lunar station. Relying on the proposed method, we preliminarily designed the station and found that its design determines the design of its modules. The study substantiates the development of several standard (serial) space modules designed to perform basic functions in space flight. The combination of such modules within the framework of an open architecture allows the station to quickly adapt to new tasks and operate for an unlimited time - theoretically, without a time limit.

References

[1] Stroganova L.B., Stolyarchuk V.A., Makarova S.M., et al. The problems habitability manned lunar station. Trudy MAI, 2013, no. 67. URL: http://trudymai.ru/published.php?ID=41586 (in Russ.).

[2] Zarubin D.S., Sevastiyanov N.N., Mikrin E.A., et al. Lunar orbital platform segment for support and provision of lunar surface missions. IAC, 2019, paper IAC-19.A5.1.5.

[3] Makushenko Yu.N., Murtazin R.F., Zarubin D.S. The cislunar spaceport for the crew delivery to the lunar surface. Kosmicheskaya tekhnika i tekhnologii [Space Engineering and Technology], 2019, no. 2, pp. 5–13. (In Russ.).

[4] NASA Lunar programs. Opportunities exist to strengthen analyses and plans for moon landing. Report to congressional committees GAO-20-68. GAO, 2019. 45 p.

[5] Global exploration roadmap. NASA, 2020. 19 p.

[6] Bodkin D., Escalera P., Bocam K. A human lunar surface base and infrastructure solution. AIAA, 2006, paper AIAA 2006-7336.

[7] Cichan T., Bailey S., Burch A., et al. Concept for a crewed lunar lander operating from the lunar orbiting platform-gateway. IAC, 2018, paper IAC-18.A5.1.4x46653

[8] Sedel’nikov A.V., Taneeva A.S., Orlov D.I. Forming design layout of a technological purpose small spacecraft based on other class of technological spacecraft design and operation experience. Vestnik MAI [MAI Aerospace Journal], 2020, no. 3, pp. 84–93, doi: https://doi.org/10.34759/vst-2020-3-84-93 (in Russ.).

[9] Whitley R., Martinez R. Options for staging orbits in cis-lunar space. IEEE Aerospace Conf., 2016, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/AERO.2016.7500635

[10] Saprykin O.A. Planets exploration with reusable takeoff and landing complexes. Vestnik MAI [MAI Aerospace Journal], 2020, no. 4, pp. 48–58, doi: https://doi.org/10.34759/vst-2020-4-48-58 (in Russ.).

[11] Landgraf M., Hosseini S., Hufenbach B., et al. HERACLES - human/robotic lunar partnership mission (HRLPM2). ESA, CDF study report CDF-156(A), 2015. 318 p.

[12] Saprykin O.A. Exploration technologies of the moon using manned and automatic means. Pilotiruemye polety v kosmos, 2014, no. 2, pp. 35–50. (In Russ.).

[13] Krikalev S.K., Saprykin O.A. Manned lunar infrastructure and commercialization of flights to the moon. Pilotiruemye polety v kosmos, 2016, no. 1, pp. 47–62. (In Russ.).

[14] U «lunnogo» kosmicheskogo korablya «Orel» obnaruzhili «lishniy ves» [Lunar “Orel” spacecraft was found to be “overweight”]. topwar.ru: website. URL: https://topwar.ru/165743-u-lunnogo-kosmicheskogo-korablja-orel-obnaruzhili-lishnij-ves.html (accessed: 15.05.2021). (In Russ.).

[15] Lunar orbital platform-gateway. nasa.gov: website. URL: https://www.nasa.gov/gateway (accessed: 15.05.2021).

[16] Rossiya i Kitay podpisali memorandum o sozdanii stantsii na Lune [Russia and China signed a memorandum about building a station on the Moon]. tass.ru: website. URL: https://tass.ru/kosmos/10862181?fbclid=IwAR1GadwPiI2NwL3M7B2wbCabNNZofjzVS5svLmgifROWgoljGhlxrhrR0CA (accessed: 15.05.2021). (In Russ.).

[17] Saprykin O., Imshenetskiy A. The methodology of comparing the effectiveness of different scenario for lunar exploration by manned and automatic means. IAC, 2016, paper IAC-16,A3,IP,7,x32701.

[18] Saprykin O.A. "Open" systems on orbit. Pilotiruemye polety, 2013, no. 1, pp. 15–28. (In Russ.).

[19] RKK «Energiya» predlozhila sozdat’ rossiyskuyu kosmicheskuyu stantsiyu [“Energy” RKK offered to develop Russian space station]. ria.ru: website. URL: https://ria.ru/20201126/kosmos-1586442362.html (accessed: 15.05.2021). (In Russ.).

[20] Saprykin O., Imshenetskiy A., Landgraf M. About results of comparing the effectiveness of different scenario for lunar exploration. IAC, 2016, paper IAC-16,B3,6-A5.3,1,x32703.

[21] Produktsiya OKB Fakel [Products of OKB “Fakel”]. fakel-russia.com: website. URL: https://fakel-russia.com/en/productions (accessed: 15.05.2021). (In Russ.).