Operational Design Influence for Crewed Lunar Surface Expeditionary Utility Lander Systems

This study builds on architecture analysis and subsequent designs introduced in this conference to support robust activity on the lunar surface with vertical take-off and landing vehicles, often referred to as “hoppers.” The analysis examines the operational requirements and employment feasibility for a crewed spacecraft specifically designed to support exploration, mining, and construction on celestial bodies with no atmosphere. The study begins with a requirements analysis for the transport and deployment of electrically powered excavators and loaders based on Volvo and Bobcat's prototypes. The investigation examines requirements to support a crew of ten for a 120-day mission originating from a logistics support hub such as a lunar base or a Martian orbital depot. The requirements analysis concludes with tank engine configuration supporting 2,500 m/s of delta-v. The architecture and operations considerations include the proposed system's place in a larger logistics support scheme and viability in a cislunar economy. The specific design elements include the roles of robotics, teleoperations, extravehicular activity support, dust mitigation, flexible propellant design, and protection from environmental hazards present in deep space for the crew and support systems. The final result is a system that can enter production with current technology with a target for initial construction and deployment under $30 million with an average cost per ninety-day mission of $10 million.