| Altair | ||
|---|---|---|
 Altair launches its ascent stage to return the astronauts to Lunar Orbit |
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| Description | ||
| Role: | Lunar landing | |
| Crew: | 4 | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Height: | 9.7 m | |
| Diameter: | 7.5 m | |
| Landing gear span: | 14.8 m | |
| Volume: | 31.8 m³ | |
| Masses | ||
| Ascent module: | 10,809 kg | |
| Descent module: | 35,055 kg | |
| Rocket engines[1] | ||
| RCS | 445 N | |
| Ascent Propulsion System (NTO/MMH) CEV SM deravitive x 1: |
44500 N | |
| Descent Propulsion System (LOX/H2) RL-10 deravitive x 4: |
66700 N | |
| Performance | ||
| Endurance: | 7 days (Sortie missions) | Up to 210 days (Outpost missions) |
| Periselene: | surface | |
 Altair logo |
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| Altair | ||
The Altair spacecraft, previously known as the Lunar Surface Access Module or LSAM, is the planned lander spacecraft component of NASA's Project Constellation, which astronauts will use for landings on the Moon beginning around 2019.
Contents |
Name
On December 13, 2007, NASA's Lunar Surface Access Module was retitled "Altair", after the 12th brightest star in the night sky, Altair in the constellation Aquila. In Latin, "Aquila" means Eagle, providing a connection to the first crewed lunar lander, Apollo 11's Eagle.[2] It was previously rumored that the final name of the LSAM was to be "Artemis", after the Greek Moon goddess who was the sister of Apollo.[3] People working at NASA within the project also claimed that the term "LSAM" was being replaced by "Lunar Lander" or simply "LL". [4] The landers used on the Apollo missions were called Lunar Modules, and often (imprecisely) referred to as Lunar Landers, Lunar Excursion Modules or LEMs (Lunar Excursion Module was the original designation of the LM, until changed by NASA due to public perception that "excursion" meant going on a picnic).
Description
Altair, which is similar in design to (but much larger than) the Apollo Lunar Module (LM), will consist of two stages: a descent stage, which will house the majority of the fuel, power supplies, and breathing oxygen for the crew, and an ascent stage, which will house the astronauts, life-support equipment, and fuel for the ascent stage motor and steering rockets. Like the Apollo LM, Altair's crew module is based on a sideways cylinder, but unlike its two-man Apollo ancestor, Altair is designed to carry the entire four-man mission crew to the surface while the Orion Spacecraft remains unmanned in lunar orbit. It will also be flown unmanned, similarly to the Apollo Applications Program's LM Truck concept, but without having to fly a manned Orion spacecraft out to the Moon. Altair, like the LM, will have two hatches – one located on top for docking and internal transfer between Altair and Orion, and a main hatch for going out to the lunar surface. Unlike the Apollo LM, Altair will have an airlock similar to those on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station between the cabin and main hatch. The airlock will allow the astronauts to don and doff their spacesuits without tracking hazardous moon dust into the main cabin, as well as allowing the vehicle to retain its internal pressure – the Apollo LM required the entire cabin to be fully depressurized before a moon walk. The airlock would allow an astronaut with a malfunctioning spacesuit to re-enter the vehicle without the entire crew having to end their moon walk. The spacecraft will also include a miniature camping-style toilet, similar to the unit now used on the ISS and the Russian Soyuz spacecraft; a food warmer to eliminate the "cold soup" menu used during Apollo missions; a laser-guided distance measurement system (with radar backup); and new "glass cockpit" and Boeing 787-based computer system that will be identical to that used on the Orion spacecraft.
Engines
Altair will use current cryogenic fuel technologies for the descent and ascent stages. The Apollo Lunar Module, advanced technology in its day, used hypergolic fuels, chemicals that combust on contact with each other, requiring no ignition mechanism and allowing an indefinite storage period. The cryogenic fuels, like the hypergolic fuels planned for the Orion spacecraft, will be pressure-fed using helium gas, eliminating malfunction-prone pumps. Mission requirements oblige the vehicle to be able to descend from a polar (or high-inclination) lunar orbit to a polar landing site, along with braking it and the Orion spacecraft into lunar orbit, as the Orion spacecraft's onboard Delta II-based engine and the amount of fuel it carries are insufficient to brake the Orion/Altair stack into lunar orbit (also crucial if it is flown unmanned without an Orion crew). The new lander will be powered by four modified RL-10 engines (currently in use on the upper stage of the Delta IV rocket and Centaur, second stage of the Atlas V rocket), burning liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX) for the descent phase, and using a single RL-10 for the trip back to Orion. Originally, NASA wanted to power the ascent stage using LOX and liquid methane (LCH4), as future missions to Mars would require the astronauts to live on the planet. The Sabatier Reactor could be used to convert the carbon dioxide (CO2) found on Mars into methane, using either found or transported hydrogen and immense amounts of (presumably solar) energy. Cost overruns and immature LOX/LCH4 rocket technology have forced NASA to stick with cryogenic fuel for the near future, although later variants of Altair will serve as testbeds for methane rockets and Sabatier reactors after a permanent lunar base is established.
On-orbit assembly
Because of the spacecraft's size and weight, Altair, and its associated Earth Departure Stage, will be launched into a Low-Earth Orbit using the heavy-lift Ares V launch vehicle, followed by a separate launch of an Orion spacecraft lifted by an Ares I. After rendezvous and docking with Altair in LEO, the crew will then configure the Orion/Altair to the Moon. If an unmanned Altair is flown, the spacecraft will be checked out after the first EDS firing in LEO (similar to that of the Apollo "Parking Orbit") before the second firing of the EDS propels the unmanned Altair to the Moon.
Flights
Offices and development
The development of Altair will be managed by the Constellation Lunar Lander Project Office at Johnson Space Center (JSC). JSC is working directly with Apollo astronauts, various industry suppliers and universities to develop the architecture for Altair. In conjunction with early development a mockup or testbed will be developed at JSC to study/develop specialized subsystems and other design considerations. Northrop Grumman, who built the Apollo Lunar Module, has been contracted to help the project office develop the system concept. [5] The only University currently noted for work in the area is the University of Colorado at Boulder's Lunar-MARS program. [6] This project was featured on nation-wide news broadcasts in May of 2007.[7]
References
- ^ http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/exploration/news/ESAS_report.html NASA's Exploration Systems Architecture Study (accessed 13 Nov 2007)
- ^ NASA names next-gen lunar lander Altair (collectSPACE.com)
- ^ Flightglobal.com article (Accessed 03 Oct 2006)
- ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/07/16/215443/nasa-lunar-lander-design-plans-revealed.html Flightglobal.com article (Accessed 17 Jul 07)
- ^ http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=122412 Northrop Grumman Helps NASA Shape Plans for Affordable Lunar Lander (Press Release Accessed 17 Jul 2007)
- ^ http://www.colorado.edu/lunarmars
- ^ http://cbs4denver.com/video/?id=30343@kcnc.dayport.com Original Denver Channel 4 news coverage (accessed 02 May 2007)
2. The latest contractor's design proposals are quite different in configuration from NASA's original designs: Lockheed-Martin, selected by NASA to develop the LSAM, has released three design proposals: Concept 1: Dual Thrust Axis Lander Concept 2: Retro-Propulsion Lander Concept 3: Single Stage Lander Link to document with illustrations and detailed explanations of each at: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/data/assets/13350.pdf
External links
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| Sub-orbital |  |
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| Earth orbital | ||
| Lunar | ||
| Solar System |
Orion Asteroid Mission · Orion Mars Mission |
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| Components | ||
| Launch sites | ||
| Abort | ||
| Other | ||
| List of missions | ||
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| Orbiters | Apollo Command/Service Module · Zond (Soyuz 7K-L1) · LOK (Soyuz 7K-L3) · Orion |  |
| Landers | Apollo Lunar Module · Lunniy Korabl · Altair | |
