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Artistic representation of Lunar Lander on the surface of the moon. The Lunar Lander designed by Lockheed Martin can carry up to four astronauts on the surface of the Moon in one trip. If it's not used, it will be on the bridge of the lunar orbital platform. ( Lockheed Martin )
Lockheed Martin unveiled the design of a reusable spacecraft that will transport astronauts from the planned lunar outpost to the moon's surface.
The lunar lander could carry up to four astronauts and a ton of freight. It should be operational by the end of the 2020s.
Back to the moon
Under the guidance of US President Donald Trump, NASA makes man on the moon almost 50 years after Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made their first heroic step on the surface of the celestial object. Among the projects, it is planned to build the lunar orbital platform gateway that will host scientists, experiments and the Lockheed lander.
If necessary, the lunar lander would leave the outpost carrying astronauts and cargo. According to the concept posted online, it can stay on the surface of the moon for up to two weeks and then go back to the outpost without the need to refuel.
Lockheed Martin said the lunar lander was using many technologies from Orion, the capsule he's building for NASA. The crew's multi-purpose vehicle is designed to transport humans to distant destinations such as the Moon and possibly Mars.
"We have done a lot of development on Orion, so it helps," said Tim Cichan, an exploration architect at Lockheed Martin.
The Lunar Orbital Platform Gateway will also serve as a starting point for future missions in the deep space, including the human exploration of Mars.
Mars Lander
Lockheed Martin said the lender on the planned moon is a forerunner of a lander on Mars for the proposed base camp. Similar to the lunar orbital platform footbridge, the base camp will serve as a space station that orbits the red planet and will welcome astronauts before they land on the surface or for explorations at Phobos and Deimos.
If, however, NASA did not choose Lockheed Martin's design for a lunar lander, Cichan said it would not affect the company's plans to build the March lander for Mars base camp.
"A precursor lander would be very beneficial but not absolutely necessary," he said.
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