4.4 Mechanism Design and Verification of Lunar Lander
133
4.4.2 Separation Mechanism for Lunar Rover
1. Determination of Design Requirements
Before primitive design of the separation mechanism for the lunar rover, it was
necessary to have an accurate understanding of configuration of the lunar rover
besides general configuration, envelope and system design requirements of the lunar
rover. The general function requirements of the connection and release mechanism for
the lunar rover included: reliable connect of the lunar rover to the lander and capability
to withstand the load conditions during launch, earth-moon transfer, circumlunar,
powered descent and soft-landing, release of the lunar rover after landing on lunar
surface, other auxiliary functions including lifting and guiding for deployment after
release.
(1) To provide support for the lunar rover.
(2) To connect the lunar rover reliably with the lander from launch to landing,
in order to increase structural stiffness and strength of the lunar rover so as
to avoid damage due to launch and landing loads. When the lunar rover was
transferred to lunar surface, it could release the lunar rover.
(3) Other necessary auxiliary functions including release, lifting and moving
guidance.
(4) High reliability. the lunar rover separation mechanism was a single point
of failure, which was crucial to the safe deployment of the lunar rover to
lunar surface. Therefore, the lunar rover separation mechanism should be high
reliable.
Typical requirements for the lunar rover separation mechanism are listed in Table 4.4.
2. Task Analysis
Compared with separation mechanism of general spacecraft with launch vehicle,
the separation mechanism of the lunar lander should withstand landing impact
load besides launch load. For example, task analysis of the lunar rover separation
mechanism of the Chang’E-3 lunar lander is as follows:
(1) Launch phase: the lunar rover separation mechanism should connect the lunar
rover to the lander reliably and withstand the load during launch.
(2) Orbital flight phase: the lunar rover separation mechanism should withstand
the space environment such as temperature alternation, radiation and vacuum.
(3) Landing: the lunar rover separation mechanism should connect the lunar rover
to the lander reliably and withstand the landing impact load.
(4) Operation on lunar surface: the lunar rover separation mechanism should
release the lunar rover and raises the lunar rover to a certain height by the lifting
device, provides guidance for the lunar rover to move on the lander for deployment. During operation on lunar surface, the lunar rover separation mechanism
should withstand high temperature and the lunar gravity environment.
133
4.4.2 Separation Mechanism for Lunar Rover
1. Determination of Design Requirements
Before primitive design of the separation mechanism for the lunar rover, it was
necessary to have an accurate understanding of configuration of the lunar rover
besides general configuration, envelope and system design requirements of the lunar
rover. The general function requirements of the connection and release mechanism for
the lunar rover included: reliable connect of the lunar rover to the lander and capability
to withstand the load conditions during launch, earth-moon transfer, circumlunar,
powered descent and soft-landing, release of the lunar rover after landing on lunar
surface, other auxiliary functions including lifting and guiding for deployment after
release.
(1) To provide support for the lunar rover.
(2) To connect the lunar rover reliably with the lander from launch to landing,
in order to increase structural stiffness and strength of the lunar rover so as
to avoid damage due to launch and landing loads. When the lunar rover was
transferred to lunar surface, it could release the lunar rover.
(3) Other necessary auxiliary functions including release, lifting and moving
guidance.
(4) High reliability. the lunar rover separation mechanism was a single point
of failure, which was crucial to the safe deployment of the lunar rover to
lunar surface. Therefore, the lunar rover separation mechanism should be high
reliable.
Typical requirements for the lunar rover separation mechanism are listed in Table 4.4.
2. Task Analysis
Compared with separation mechanism of general spacecraft with launch vehicle,
the separation mechanism of the lunar lander should withstand landing impact
load besides launch load. For example, task analysis of the lunar rover separation
mechanism of the Chang’E-3 lunar lander is as follows:
(1) Launch phase: the lunar rover separation mechanism should connect the lunar
rover to the lander reliably and withstand the load during launch.
(2) Orbital flight phase: the lunar rover separation mechanism should withstand
the space environment such as temperature alternation, radiation and vacuum.
(3) Landing: the lunar rover separation mechanism should connect the lunar rover
to the lander reliably and withstand the landing impact load.
(4) Operation on lunar surface: the lunar rover separation mechanism should
release the lunar rover and raises the lunar rover to a certain height by the lifting
device, provides guidance for the lunar rover to move on the lander for deployment. During operation on lunar surface, the lunar rover separation mechanism
should withstand high temperature and the lunar gravity environment.