LANDING STATION & PROPULSION

Overview

In order to achieve the goals of the Google Lunar X PRIZE, the Landing station plays a critical role. The landing station has two main functions, 1) to transport the rover to the moon and 2) act as a bent-pipe transponder sending signal from the rover to earth. The landing station will be launched from earth via a carrier and then depart once in low earth orbit. The navigation and altitude control system, the propulsion system, and power subsystem (solar cells) would activate at this point and lead the landing station until successful soft landing on the moon. Upon landing on the moon the landing station will do initial calibration to aim its dish antenna to communicate with the earth DSN. The rover would then be released via a ramp onto the moon surface. The landing station would then remain stationary and act a medium for communication between the rover and the earth. Note that the communication systems is active throughout the whole process though the power inputted varies. The cost of subsystems within the landing station mentioned above are listed below in Table1.

System

Approximate Cost($)

C&DH

10,000

Nav & Alt Control

500,000

Power Subsystem

20,000

Propulsion Sys

200,000

Structure

7,000