LUNAR CARGO (ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ ΣΕΛΗΝΟΔΡΟΜΙΑ)

The LUNAR CARGO company develops plans to operate between Low Lunar Orbit (LLO), the Lunar surface and along the Lunar surface, with 2 game-changing mechanical landing systems, which are FREE from EJECTA generation and FREE from consuming any kind of FUEL.

These two systems will offer landing and mobility services for large cargo (> 5 tones), parcels (350 g) and modules (several kilos *). The frequency of deliveries for modules and parcels will be at least 1 per 2 hours (111.78 min) per location, while a mobile version of the parcel receiver will operate ad-hoc for serving emergencies.

The efficiency increase wrt classical landers will reach 323%.

Large cargos are to be delivered by a wheel-shaped spacecraft (O.P.L.O.N.A.S. **) that lands tangentially on a Lunar plateau called “Ocean of Storms”, and it uses roll friction to dissipate its kinetic energy. Before reaching to a halt, a toroidal tube is inflated to maintain the wheel shape and permit the vehicle to actively roll to the desired destination.

Once it reaches the destination the toroidal tube is deflated to permit the cylindrical payload-containing-hub to reach smoothly the ground level. After we extract the payload, the cylindrical hub can be up-cycled as a habitat. The flexible elements (axial and perimetric tethers) will be up-cycled to generate a M.A.C.E.D.O.N.A.S.***.

Landing of OPLONAS generates only minor ejecta, in terms of speed and kinetic energy, due to its low speed (max 1.6 km /sec), in comparison to the rocket expelled gases of the classical landers (4 km/sec) and NOT-omnidirectional..

Parcels are to be landed by a lunar-surface-based system, (MACEDONAS) that captures, decelerates, and steers parcels on a safety net.

Unique feature of MACEDONAS is that it does not generate any surface ejecta.

A mobile version of MACEDONAS is designed for delivering emergency supplies to remote distressed teams.

MACEDONAS is also suitable for point-to-point ballistic transportation on the lunar surface. Multiple MACEDONAS can be installed along the track (a frozen orbit) of an orbiting delivery spacecraft.

We are currently looking for qualification flights to the Lunar orbit or Lunar surface to send quantities of wires needed for constructing an experimental MACEDONAS.

* Envelop of modules to be delivered, in terms of volume and mass, will be determined following market research.
** O.P.L.O.N.A.S. Oversized Payload Lander On Non Atmospheric Somata.
*** M.A.C.E.D.O.N.A.S Momentum Absorption Catcher on Non Atmospheric Somata.