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LESA Shelter
LESA Shelter
LESA Shelter
Credit: © Mark Wade
American manned lunar habitat. Study 1966. LESA (Lunar Exploration System for Apollo) was an advanced lunar surface shelter.

AKA: Lunar Exploration System for Apollo. Status: Study 1966. Gross mass: 9,700 kg (21,300 lb). Height: 4.30 m (14.10 ft).

It would provide the maximum Saturn V-launched lunar base module by using a high efficiency LLV Lunar Landing Vehicle which used RL10 Lox/LH2 engines for the direct landing on the lunar surface. The LESA consisted of a circular inner cabin and annular outer cabin with control stations, bunks, and an airlock.

The LLV would deliver the LESA together with a Molab lunar rover on the surface of the moon. Crews to man the base would be landed in 3-man LM Taxis. The crews would use the LESA Shelter for quarters, and the pressurized Molab for mobility. Initially the shelter would be manned by 3 crew members for 90 days. Follow-on flights would build up the base to six residents for indefinite lunar operations.

Crew Size: 6. Habitable Volume: 80.00 m3.



Family: Lunar Habitats, Moon. Country: USA. Spacecraft: LESA Lunar Base. Launch Vehicles: Saturn V. Bibliography: 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 26, 367.
Photo Gallery

LESA LanderLESA Lander
Credit: NASA


Lunar ExplorationLunar Exploration
Lunar Exploration Plans
Credit: © Mark Wade


Post-Apollo lunarPost-Apollo lunar
Comparison of American post-Apollo lunar spacecraft.
Credit: © Mark Wade


LESA Lunar BaseLESA Lunar Base
Credit: © Mark Wade



1969 September 1 - .

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