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Pressurized Lunar Rover - Dual Hull
Pressurized Rover
Pressurized Rover
Pressurized Lunar Rover - Dual Hull
American manned lunar rover. Study 1992. An alternate April 1992 USRA study by students at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University sketched out a design for a Pressurized Lunar Rover (PLR) using dual hulls.

Status: Study 1992. Gross mass: 7,000 kg (15,400 lb). Height: 11.00 m (36.00 ft). Diameter: 4.00 m (13.10 ft).

Under a contract from NASA, in the late 1980's and early 1990's the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) operated the NASA/USRA University Advanced Design Program. Several participants in the Advanced Design Program chose as their project a pressurized rover for Moon or Mars exploration. An April 1992 report by students at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University covered the "Design of a Pressurized Lunar Rover." This concept had two cylindrical pressure hulls passively connected by a pressurized flexible passageway. The dual system concept allowed a combination of articulated motion and double Ackerman steering for executing turns. Their design had a total length of 11 m total length with two 5 m length cylinders that were 4 m in diameter. Total weight was 7,000 kg. The pressure vessel consisted of inner and outer graphite/epoxy shells with NOMEX honeycomb core and a Kevlar micrometeoroid shielding. The two wheels on the side of each body were attached to a common structural bar that was pinned to the vehicle in the center. This allowed maximum wheel contact in rough terrain. A dynamic isotope power system in conjunction with a closed Brayton cycle generator supplied a constant power of 8.5 kw. Excess heat was dissipated through thermal radiators. Four 2 m diameter wheels were used on each body. An independent brushless DC motor powered each wheel through a 50:1 speed reduction planetary traction drive. The dual vehicle concept with independent propulsion at each wheel allowed an articulated motion for ease of propulsion through loose soil. Nominal speed was 14.7 km/hr and top speed was 29.4 km/hr. The rover supported a nominal crew of four for 14 days, and was able to support a crew of six in an emergency with no range requirement Nominal range was 2000 km, and the rover could negotiate a maximum grade of 26.5 percent, and a maximum crossable crevice of 1.7 m.

PLR Summary

Primary dimensions:

Equipment Summary

Mass Breakdown:

Performance:

  • System Power Required:
  • Drive Motors
    • Normal Operations 5,452 W
    • Maximum 12,000 W
  • ECLSS 160 W
  • Operation (computers, communication, etc.) 600 W
  • Thermal Control:
    • Average 800 W
    • Maximum 1,356 W
  • Internal Requirements (includes lights, galley, hygiene, etc.): 1,500 W
  • External Lighting 1,000 W
  • Experiments 1,000 W
  • Miscellaneous 1,000 W

    Crew Size: 4. Electric System: 8.50 average kW.

    Family: Lunar Rovers, Moon. Country: USA. Agency: NASA, Virginia. Bibliography: 1995, 1996.
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