Lockheed Martin unveils reusable lander to pair with Lunar Gateway



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Lockheed Martin Reusable Lunar Lander Concept

Image credit: Lockheed Martin

When NASA announced that the bridge of the lunar platform in orbit (LOP-G) was fast, it quickly pointed out the biggest disadvantage of this installation: there was no way to land on the moon. Lockheed Martin can now have the answer to this criticism with the publication of his reusable lunar lander concept.

The proposal was unveiled at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Bremen, Germany, and the concept sparked a lot of enthusiasm at the convention. The Lockheed Martin crewed undercarriage is a one-step design designed to be fully reusable. It will also use an iterative design to allow the vehicle to grow as needed.

The current vehicle development plan requires the use of proven equipment based on NASA's Orion satellite. Initially, the boat should be able to carry up to four crew members and 2,000 lbs. (kg) of cargo on the lunar surface. Once there, the LG should be able to stay in place for up to two weeks before returning to the Gateway Station. The design, as presented, shows no need to refuel on the lunar surface to complete this mission profile.

Lisa Callahan, Vice President and General Manager of the Civil and Commercial Space at Lockheed Martin Space, said, "NASA has asked the industry to come up with new and innovative approaches to advance the US goal of sending humans back on the Moon and establish a lasting and sustainable presence there. This concept takes full advantage of both the gateway and existing technologies to create a versatile and powerful LG that can be built quickly and cost effectively. This lander could be used to set up a surface base, deliver scientific or commercial cargo and conduct an extraordinary exploration of the moon. "

NASA unveiled its Deep Space Gateway project, located in the outer space, as the next leg of its journey to Mars. Image Credit: Nathan Koga / SpaceFlight Insider

NASA has announced the creation of a Deep Space Gateway, located in the outer space, as the next leg of its journey to Mars. Image Credit: Nathan Koga / SpaceFlight Insider

Representatives of Lockheed Martin have emphasized the use of Orion spacecraft-based technology to reduce costs. They believe that by using components such as avionics, life support and other systems, the expense of designing and testing new equipment can be eliminated.

"The gateway is the key to the complete, frequent and fast reuse of this lander," said Tim Cichan, space exploration architect at Lockheed Martin Space, who introduced the concept of LG Lander to the IAC. "Because this lander does not have to suffer the punishment of returning to the Earth's atmosphere, it can be flown over and over without requiring major and expensive renovations. a modular, flexible and reusable approach to deep space exploration. "

LOP-G is a refitted version of the lunar station envisioned as part of the Canceled Asteroid Redirection (ARP) program. The initial vision envisioned a lunar orbit installation that would be used for robotic missions, short stays of astronauts and lunar access. It was considered a key element of the scientific mission and exploration of the ARP. The LOP-G concept has recently been relaunched as a potential tracking station for astronauts traveling to the Moon.

As expected, LOP-G could have a single orbit that would facilitate global lunar access to all type of undercarriage. With a reusable lander that is tidy and refitted at the station, several sites can be explored for their scientific and commercial prospects. In addition, it would be a key element of NASA's extended exploration mission. The combination of LOP-G and Lockheed Martin lunar lander concepts could allow for long-lasting lunar exploration.

Tagged: Asteroid Recovery Program Congress – International Astronautical Congress – Civil Area Commercial Space – Lockheed-Martin LOP-G Lead Stories

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Joe Latrell

Joe Latrell has been a space enthusiast ever since and has created his own
rocket company in Roswell, NM, in addition to other consumer spaces
efforts. He continues to design, build and launch his own rockets and is passionate about seeing the next generation excited about the possibilities offered by space exploration. Joe shares his experiences in the field of business and small business with organizations such as Teachers In Space, Inc. He is also actively involved in his church, putting his many skills to the service of this business and other activities to non-profit.

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