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12 Integration and Assembly Technology of Lunar Lander
12.5.7 Turnover and Attitude Adjustment of Lunar Lander
When the solar panel or deployable antenna was assembled or deployed for the
lunar lander, it was necessary to adjust the attitude of the lunar lander to match the
assembly or test of the mechanism. Generally, the dual-axis turntable was applied
to adjust the attitude of the lunar lander. Up to date, the screw rail structure in the
dual-axis turntables was applied to implement turnover of spacecraft in China.
When the landing gear mechanism and the solar panel were tested for the Chang’E3 lunar lander, the lunar lander should be tilted from a vertical status to a certain
angle and then rotated around the axis. The attitude adjustment of past spacecraft
was implemented by dual-axis turntable in China. The turntable can achieve 0–90°
flip and 0–360° rotation for spacecraft. For the dual-axis turntable with screw rail
structure, the turnover height is high and the rotation envelope is large, which was
difficult to meet requirement for installation and adjustment of mechanism in the
Chang’E-3 lunar lander.
In order to satisfy the special requirement for turnover and attitude adjustment
of the Chang’E-3 lunar lander, a new type of dual-axis turnover platform based on
electric push rod was applied. While the probe was turned over, the probe could be
turned outside of the turntable. Then the turntable could get out the way of the landing
gear mechanism, so as to lower the height of the turned probe on the turntable. In the
turntable based on electric push rod, there were support platform, adjustable support,
retractable electric push rod, sunk flip frame, anti-overturn device, adapter, rotation
system and electronic control system. The application of the dual-axis turntable based
on electric push rod in solar panel illumination test of the Chang’E-3 lunar lander is
shown in Fig. 12.13.
12.5.8 Lifting of Lunar Lander
During assembly process of spacecraft, it will be assembled, tested, examined, packed
and transported at different location, when the spreader is necessary equipment for
spacecraft transfer. Generally, in order to facilitate the convenience and safety of the
disassembly and assembly of the spreader, the lift point is at the top or the outer side
of the spacecraft structure. The lifting device is generally connected to the spacecraft
through pin, screw or simple adapters and fixed. The structure of the Chang’E-3 lunar
lander was cross support. The main body was a decahedron. Because the lift point
was on the bottom of main structure, it was difficult to lift and turn over the lunar
lander in the air.
1. Lifting of the Lunar Lander
The Chang’E-3 lunar lander was vertically lifted by 4 lift points which were on
the bottom of main structure and inside the structure. The interfaces of lift points
were 4 through-holes uniformly distributed on a circle. The axis of through-hole was
12 Integration and Assembly Technology of Lunar Lander
12.5.7 Turnover and Attitude Adjustment of Lunar Lander
When the solar panel or deployable antenna was assembled or deployed for the
lunar lander, it was necessary to adjust the attitude of the lunar lander to match the
assembly or test of the mechanism. Generally, the dual-axis turntable was applied
to adjust the attitude of the lunar lander. Up to date, the screw rail structure in the
dual-axis turntables was applied to implement turnover of spacecraft in China.
When the landing gear mechanism and the solar panel were tested for the Chang’E3 lunar lander, the lunar lander should be tilted from a vertical status to a certain
angle and then rotated around the axis. The attitude adjustment of past spacecraft
was implemented by dual-axis turntable in China. The turntable can achieve 0–90°
flip and 0–360° rotation for spacecraft. For the dual-axis turntable with screw rail
structure, the turnover height is high and the rotation envelope is large, which was
difficult to meet requirement for installation and adjustment of mechanism in the
Chang’E-3 lunar lander.
In order to satisfy the special requirement for turnover and attitude adjustment
of the Chang’E-3 lunar lander, a new type of dual-axis turnover platform based on
electric push rod was applied. While the probe was turned over, the probe could be
turned outside of the turntable. Then the turntable could get out the way of the landing
gear mechanism, so as to lower the height of the turned probe on the turntable. In the
turntable based on electric push rod, there were support platform, adjustable support,
retractable electric push rod, sunk flip frame, anti-overturn device, adapter, rotation
system and electronic control system. The application of the dual-axis turntable based
on electric push rod in solar panel illumination test of the Chang’E-3 lunar lander is
shown in Fig. 12.13.
12.5.8 Lifting of Lunar Lander
During assembly process of spacecraft, it will be assembled, tested, examined, packed
and transported at different location, when the spreader is necessary equipment for
spacecraft transfer. Generally, in order to facilitate the convenience and safety of the
disassembly and assembly of the spreader, the lift point is at the top or the outer side
of the spacecraft structure. The lifting device is generally connected to the spacecraft
through pin, screw or simple adapters and fixed. The structure of the Chang’E-3 lunar
lander was cross support. The main body was a decahedron. Because the lift point
was on the bottom of main structure, it was difficult to lift and turn over the lunar
lander in the air.
1. Lifting of the Lunar Lander
The Chang’E-3 lunar lander was vertically lifted by 4 lift points which were on
the bottom of main structure and inside the structure. The interfaces of lift points
were 4 through-holes uniformly distributed on a circle. The axis of through-hole was