Design Development and Testing for an Expandable Lunar Habitat

Abstract

ILC Dover, under contract by NASA Langley Research Center, and in cooperation with NASA Johnson Space Center is designing and manufacturing an expandable lunar habitat. This cylindrical habitat, or Engineering Development Unit (EDU), is a hybrid system with two hard endcaps and a softgoods section in the center. The softgoods pack into the endcaps and the unit roughly doubles in length upon deployment. The softgoods is a multi-layer laminate of materials with each layer optimized for the desired function. Protection to the habitat from potential threats and unfavorable environmental conditions will be provided by various flexible materials. The Micrometeoroid/Orbital Debris layer shatters and absorbs hypervelocity particles, the Multi Layer Insulation grants thermal and potentially radiation protection, and the outer layer prevents abrasion damage. The remainder of the softgoods consists of a restraint system and bladder layer to handle internal pressure loads and retain gas respectively. The restraint layer uses a webbing net construction with a coated fabric to carry the pressure loads up to 9 psi. Gas retention is accomplished by the use of a coated fabric and an O-ring seal. All of these materials are flexible and amenable to folding without sustaining damage. The flexibility of the cumulative laminate will enable the structure to be folded and packed multiple times. On-going component level testing is being conducted to validate hybrid interfaces, creep knockdowns, and manufacturability. Upon completion in early 2009, the EDU will serve as a test bed to evaluate the dynamics of deploying a large system, to critically examine softgoods interfaces, and to determine methods for outfitting an expandable system. This paper presents an overview of the design and component testing for the Expandable Lunar Module.