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17 Future Prospects of Lunar Lander Technology
missions were launched by the United States Japan, China, India and ESA in
second climax of lunar exploration [5, 9]. The lunar exploration plans with
lunar base construction as ultimate goal for future strategic plan were come up
[3].
(2) The important trend is fine survey of resources and technology demonstration of resources utilization. The lunar resources can be summarized as position resources, environment resources and material resources. The position
resources of the Moon mean that the Moon can serve as a ‘high ground’ because
the near side is toward the Earth forever, long term and large scale observation
of the Earth and its proximity can be conducted based on the Moon. The slow
rotation rate of the Moon makes it possible to observe specific space region
continuously. The environment resources including natural lunar environment
such as high vacuum, low gravity and weak magnetic field make the Moon
a good place for scientific research, manufacture and refinement of special
material. The material resources are water ice, Helium-3 [4, 5] and other rare
elements on the Moon which may be raw material for future solution of energy
crisis of human being.
The Moon is the nearest celestial body of the Earth which makes resources
utilization feasible. Major space countries are all conducting fine survey of
lunar resources urgently in order to gain advantage. The Moon might be a
contest target for all countries in the future.
The Moon may be a favorable place for the key technology demonstration
of future deep space exploration because of its position and environment. For
example, technologies such as long term electric propulsion, autonomous navigation and control, thermal control under extreme environment and long range
telecommunication were validated in ESA SMART-1 lunar mission. Most
of deep space exploration technologies can be applied in future deep space
exploration after demonstration in lunar missions.
(3) The long term goal is lunar base construction for lunar exploration [10]. In
the middle and of later twentieth centuries, proposals to construct long term
lunar facilities and implement efficient lunar resources utilization were come
up by the United States and Russia. Some concepts of lunar base are shown
in Fig. 17.1. The proposals of lunar base are developed and improved by
different countries recently. China also initiated primitive research on robotic
lunar scientific research station and manned lunar missions.
Construction of lunar base [7] can help to implement long term and continuous
research and manufacture, Earth observation and resources mining. Key technologies including space power, thermal control, telecommunication, navigation, structure and configuration, life support, space environment protection and maintenance
can be tested and validated by construction of lunar base which has function of
power generation, telecommunication, transportation, experiment and etc., which
may prepare for subsequent manned lunar missions and Mars missions as well as
improve technology and capability of deep space exploration [6, 7]. The research
on life science, Earth science, astronomy, material science and space science can be
17 Future Prospects of Lunar Lander Technology
missions were launched by the United States Japan, China, India and ESA in
second climax of lunar exploration [5, 9]. The lunar exploration plans with
lunar base construction as ultimate goal for future strategic plan were come up
[3].
(2) The important trend is fine survey of resources and technology demonstration of resources utilization. The lunar resources can be summarized as position resources, environment resources and material resources. The position
resources of the Moon mean that the Moon can serve as a ‘high ground’ because
the near side is toward the Earth forever, long term and large scale observation
of the Earth and its proximity can be conducted based on the Moon. The slow
rotation rate of the Moon makes it possible to observe specific space region
continuously. The environment resources including natural lunar environment
such as high vacuum, low gravity and weak magnetic field make the Moon
a good place for scientific research, manufacture and refinement of special
material. The material resources are water ice, Helium-3 [4, 5] and other rare
elements on the Moon which may be raw material for future solution of energy
crisis of human being.
The Moon is the nearest celestial body of the Earth which makes resources
utilization feasible. Major space countries are all conducting fine survey of
lunar resources urgently in order to gain advantage. The Moon might be a
contest target for all countries in the future.
The Moon may be a favorable place for the key technology demonstration
of future deep space exploration because of its position and environment. For
example, technologies such as long term electric propulsion, autonomous navigation and control, thermal control under extreme environment and long range
telecommunication were validated in ESA SMART-1 lunar mission. Most
of deep space exploration technologies can be applied in future deep space
exploration after demonstration in lunar missions.
(3) The long term goal is lunar base construction for lunar exploration [10]. In
the middle and of later twentieth centuries, proposals to construct long term
lunar facilities and implement efficient lunar resources utilization were come
up by the United States and Russia. Some concepts of lunar base are shown
in Fig. 17.1. The proposals of lunar base are developed and improved by
different countries recently. China also initiated primitive research on robotic
lunar scientific research station and manned lunar missions.
Construction of lunar base [7] can help to implement long term and continuous
research and manufacture, Earth observation and resources mining. Key technologies including space power, thermal control, telecommunication, navigation, structure and configuration, life support, space environment protection and maintenance
can be tested and validated by construction of lunar base which has function of
power generation, telecommunication, transportation, experiment and etc., which
may prepare for subsequent manned lunar missions and Mars missions as well as
improve technology and capability of deep space exploration [6, 7]. The research
on life science, Earth science, astronomy, material science and space science can be