RALIES!

Robotic Assembly of Lunar Inflatable and Erectable Structures

Claire Stevlingson

Problem and Concept Solution Overview

Early Lunar Settlement Logistics

Where?

Mare Tranquillitatis

Why?

Artemis 3 to Apollo site rather than south pole

When?

Safe Apollo-class "free return" transportation trajectory during early SLS missions while the system is being thoroughly vetted

How?

In conjunction with SLS mission transport or on future Starship ride

Problem

• Many existing concepts for lunar surface development are complicated, costly, and time consuming
• 3D Printing, Microwave Sintering
• No optimized solution has been found that utilizes the best aspects of all concepts for an initial, early phase, quicker and safer surface habitat

Background

• Uses regolith as building material
• Complicated machinery
• Time consuming
• Useful for later phases

• Costly
• Higher safety risk
• More redundancy needed

ISRU and 3D Printing

Crewed Construction

Three Types of Structures

• Class 1 - Pre Integrated Eg., Apollo, MALEO – Early Stage, No building equipment needed, quick certification and commission(C&C)
• Class 2 - Erectable and Deployable – Early Stage, Minimum Equipment, more involved C&C
• Class 3 - ISRU based – 3D Printed, Sintered, Dry Packed – Complex machinery involved. Best for later stage evolution for permanent settlement

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• RALIES is an early hybrid strategy habitat that attempts to optimize lander payload, C&C, time to commission and maximizes crew exploration and science during initial phases of settlement

Hybrid Approach

Early Lunar Surface Settlement Buildup

Erectable Structure Shield

Deployable Pressurized Habitat

Airlock

Thermal Barrier

Airlock

Kilopower (10kW) Radiator

Kilopower (10kW) Radiator

Structure Side View

1

2

3

4

Section View

Key Features

• Mare Tranquillitatis Landing Site

• Equatorial ideal for direct ground-ground communication
• Heritage site from previous Apollo missions
• “Skylight Pit” and other lava tube tunnels closeby for potential future habitat use
• Smoother terrain

2. Autonomous Site Preparation

• Capable of clearing, compacting, leveling, thermal barrier, dust removal
• Critical for any lunar base construction
• Already in use for terrestrial applications
• Able to prepare site with minimal human intervention
• Simple, already proven site preparation techniques and excavation tools can be utilized

Typical Concepts for Lunar Excavation Tools

3. Erectable (SPRUNG) Structure

• Can be constructed using autonomous robots for quick and simple initial shelter
• Offers protection from micrometeorites and dust
• Provides thermal and radiation shielding
• Modularity offers expansion for future development
• No foundation requirements means easier construction for lunar surface
• Can be adaptable to any size (fit inside lava tubes)

3. Erectable Structure

1

2

3

4

Rapid Construction

Design Flexibility

Performance & Durability

Lower Overall Costs

4. Inflatable Inner Habitat

• Easiest and quickest way to produce a pressurized habitat
• Deployment can be monitored by on-site robots to verify pressurization and placement within the structure
• Able to have simpler deployment with help from autonomous robots
• Provides immediate shelter for incoming astronauts with high reliability and little production time
• Also able to be modular for future expansion

5. Air Lock

NASA JPL Hybrid Inflatable Suit Lock

• Able to be transported in a stowed configuration
• Can be expanded and inflated for use inside of SPRUNG structure to connect pressurized inflatable to SPRUNG exit

Summary

Autonomous Construction Robots

Erectable and Inflatable Habitat Kits

Quicker, Safer, More Effective Site Prep!

Next Steps

• Produce a timeline for the ConOps to coincide with the Artemis timeline
• Perform cost estimate for launching with erectable and inflatable structures using SLS or Starship once information becomes available
• More detailed design on erectable and inflatable interior for use by crew
• Initial landing plan and redundancy options

Questions?

References

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