What is it about?
The Lunar Exploration and Access to Polar Regions (LEAPR) project present a mission architecture for returning humans to the Moon by 2028 with a reusable, single-stage lunar lander. This vehicle is capable of taking astronauts and cargo from the future lunar space station known as Gateway to different points in the lunar surface and back. This project was the winner of the NASA Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts - Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) 2019 Space Design Competition.
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Why is it important?
The LEAPR project incorporates both flight-proven and next-generation technology that resolves many of the challenges of returning to the Moon in a safer and sustainable manner. The lunar lander called Karaya Transport Vehicle (KTV) has the ability of transporting up to 4 crew and 500 kg of cargo to scientifically important places on the Moon such as the poles and regions along the equator. The KTV introduces innovative concepts such as built-in dust mitigation system in the airlock, an impact dampening system in the landing legs, a robotic refuelling strategy, and ergonomic features in the crew cabin. In addition, the vehicle's concept of operation incorporates a specific type of orbit that enables the access to the Gateway and other points on the Moon and in the cis-lunar environment.
Perspectives
The LEAPR project was an interdisciplinary effort made by undergraduate studies with the support of a dedicated team of faculty and industry advisors. In the absence of an aerospace engineering program and resources at our university, our team took the initiative of learning important concepts and procedures on our own and applying them with our best judgment. After more than 9 month of working on the project our team became the first Puerto Rican team to participate and also win First Place Overall, Best in Theme and the PEACH Award in the NASA RASC-AL 2019 Space Design Competition.
Wilbert Ruperto
Universidad de Puerto Rico
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Lunar Exploration and Access to Polar Regions (LEAPR), August 2019, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA),
DOI: 10.2514/6.2019-3882.
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