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Conceptual design and analysis of roads and road construction machinery for initial lunar base operationsRecent developments have made it possible for scientists and engineers to consider returning to the Moon to build a manned lunar base. The base can be used to conduct scientific research, develop new space technology, and utilize the natural resources of the Moon. Areas of the base will be separated, connected by a system of roads that reduce the power requirements of vehicles traveling on them. Feasible road types for the lunar surface were analyzed and a road construction system was designed for initial lunar base operations. A model was also constructed to show the system configuration and key operating features. The alternate designs for the lunar road construction system were developed in four stages: analyze and select a road type; determine operations and machinery needed to produce the road; develop machinery configurations; and develop alternates for several machine components. A compacted lunar soil road was selected for initial lunar base operations. The only machinery required to produce this road were a grader and a compactor. The road construction system consists of a main drive unit which is used for propulsion, a detachable grader assembly, and a towed compactor.
Document ID
19900015143
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Sines, Jeffrey L.
(Texas Univ. Austin, TX, United States)
Banks, Joel
(Texas Univ. Austin, TX, United States)
Efatpenah, Keyanoush
(Texas Univ. Austin, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1990
Subject Category
Engineering (General)
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.26:186673
NASA-CR-186673
Accession Number
90N24459
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASW-4435
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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