LEADER: Lunar Equatorial Daylight Exploration Rover
Madhu Thangavelu [1] University of Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles, California 90089-1191., mthangav@usc.edu
Saba Raji [2]University of Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles, California 90089-1191., Sraji@usc.edu
https://isdc.nss.org/isdc_feat...
The LEADER Lunar Equatorial Daylight Exploration Rover traverse mission concept proposes an exciting alternative to Artemis lll. The LEADER proposal plans to return the crew to the Mare Tranquillitatis region to explore the pits and conduct a traverse to the Apollo 11 site to survey the landing site in order to assess, protect, and preserve the historic site and its contents. The LEADER mission is proposed as a phased, evolutionary dress rehearsal to test the capabilities and performance of commercial space transportation systems as well as lunar surface operations systems before attempting a much more complex polar landing and associated activities.
The LEADER mission is built around certain core principles. They include Low Earth Orbit(LEO) integration and staging at ISS, enhancing safety through integrated design, simplifying crew transfer EVA needs between
transit, lunar lander and surface vehicles that also provides instant mobility and flexibility upon lunar landing, emphasizing efficiency in lunar surface exploration. Innovative systems proposed for the LEADER mission include modular, fully reusable propulsion systems and the use of a thrust pallet for cislunar transport stages and controlled rupture airbag landing systems for the final descent and touchdown stage to curtail debris production by the heavy LEADER lunar rover. Integration of the LEADER mission in LEO, assisted by the crew of of ISS has several benefits including enhanced global participation and crew adjustment period in the LEADER mission that outweigh the Earth-Moon celestial alignment limitations. The ability of the LEADER pressurized rover to serve both as a habitat module and a rover during the entire 2-week mission will enable astronauts to explore sites along the mare traverse while being monitored from orbit without the need to frequently return to a lander, maximizing the productive output of the LEADER mission and paving the way for a sustainable human presence on the Moon.
This is an ongoing study, and several trades among the elements are being assessed. Aspects of the LEADER
mission plan and profile, along with systems and operations being studied, are outlined.
"NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate established the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC) in 2020 to bring together government, academia, non-profit institutions, and the private sector to identify technological capabilities and hurdles that must be retired to achieve a sustained presence on the surface of the Moon, both human and robotic.
LSIC centers its work on NASA’s Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative’s (LSII) key capability areas including surface power, in-situ resource utilization, excavation and construction, dust mitigation, extreme environments, and extreme access.
The Consortium provides a forum for NASA to communicate technological requirements, needs, and opportunities; and for the community to share with NASA existing capabilities and critical gaps. The LSIC aims to:
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) manages the LSIC in collaboration with NASA and hosts a variety of annual workshops and meetings that are open to in-person and virtual attendees with varying levels of interest—from active members of the aerospace community to small businesses looking to enter the market to collegiate and university students emerging in the field. "
https://www.nasa.gov/space-tec...
Status: Unbuilt
My Role: project Designer
Additional Credits: Madhu Thangavelu, professor at the University Of Southern California
