Author Topic: About reusable LM  (Read 11644 times)

Offline A_M_Swallow

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Re: About reusable LM
« Reply #20 on: 07/28/2017 12:42 am »
The walls of the garage/hanger can be designed to allow the astronauts to walk around in gecko boots. Humans find lifting and turning things is easier if the person does not drift away. Mini arms to moving large items may also be useful.

Offline savuporo

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Re: About reusable LM
« Reply #21 on: 07/28/2017 12:48 am »
You could build the vehicle with modular assemblies locked into a frame-like chassis..

This is called ORU aka orbital replacement unit.

Obviously it would be hard to have a vehicle fully that modular, but conceivably a good serviceable portion could be. Note, ORU's are being robotically serviced now.
Orion - the first and only manned not-too-deep-space craft

Offline A_M_Swallow

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Re: About reusable LM
« Reply #22 on: 07/28/2017 01:01 am »
You could build the vehicle with modular assemblies locked into a frame-like chassis..

This is called ORU aka orbital replacement unit.

Obviously it would be hard to have a vehicle fully that modular, but conceivably a good serviceable portion could be. Note, ORU's are being robotically serviced now.

Require 80% of the reusable lander to consist of orbital replacement units. Have a design aim of 95% of the units being replaceable. There is always something that is so hard to fix that buying a new vehicle is cheaper - car insurance companies call this a write off.

Offline savuporo

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Re: About reusable LM
« Reply #23 on: 07/28/2017 01:10 am »
Require 80% of the reusable lander to consist of orbital replacement units. Have a design aim of 95% of the units being replaceable. There is always something that is so hard to fix that buying a new vehicle is cheaper - car insurance companies call this a write off.

The downside obviously is that it's going to make everything more heavy, and will actually bring down MTBF because of extra complexity in a way of connectors, couplings etc. Probably a price worth paying.
Orion - the first and only manned not-too-deep-space craft

Offline A_M_Swallow

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Re: About reusable LM
« Reply #24 on: 07/28/2017 02:02 am »
Require 80% of the reusable lander to consist of orbital replacement units. Have a design aim of 95% of the units being replaceable. There is always something that is so hard to fix that buying a new vehicle is cheaper - car insurance companies call this a write off.

The downside obviously is that it's going to make everything more heavy, and will actually bring down MTBF because of extra complexity in a way of connectors, couplings etc. Probably a price worth paying.

When the accountants do the cost trade ensure they include transportation costs. Just moving a large lander from the Earth's surface to the Moon will cost $50 million to $100 million.

Considering the other possibility. Can any of the 'landers' currently flying on Earth perform 10 take-offs and landings without any maintenance?


Offline Gliderflyer

Re: About reusable LM
« Reply #25 on: 07/28/2017 02:58 am »
Can any of the 'landers' currently flying on Earth perform 10 take-offs and landings without any maintenance?

Masten probably could, they did 5 flights in a little over an hour. Being pressure fed, they don't have to worry about pump wear and CSJ engines can last for many thousands of cycles if you design them right. I don't have any inside information on their vehicle maintenance, but I would guess several hundred flights would be possible before needing to replace anything.
I tried it at home

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