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ESDMD #0808: Relocation of Large Assets on the Lunar Surface

A system that can repeatedly move large, human-rated assets of more than 6 metric tons over short and long distances on the Moon, so landed assets can be reused at new sites (bin 3, rating 25 of 57). Cargo-handling systems in development "do not address" this need (Tech gaps spreadsheet, ESDMD #0808).

Quotations below are from row ESDMD #0808 of the tech gaps spreadsheet. ADD Rev C's Appendix D prints the same table for this gap, and it matches the row field for field (ADD Rev C, p. 243).

Description

"The capability to manipulate and transport large assets (>6 metric tons) on the lunar surface can enable a wider range of exploration and science. Relocated assets can be reused by subsequent missions to visit diverse sites. Payload and cargo manipulation systems currently in development do not address the need for a system capable of repeatedly moving large, human-rated assets across short to long distances on the lunar surface."

Impacts and benefits: "Without gap closure, challenges relocating assets may limit the science and exploration value of repeated visits to the same location or require new assets to be launched and landed. With gap closure, benefits include increased exploration range reusing previously landed assets."

Current state of the art

"Cargo and payload manipulation and transportation options that may not scale or be capable of transporting a high-mass asset over a long distance."

Performance target

Moon: "Capability to manipulate and transport >6-metric ton asset over TBR distance."

Child gaps

  • 0808-01: Robotic offloading and relocation for large-scale payloads

Traceability

  • Use cases and functions: UC-M-401 L -- FN-M-403 L; UC-M-601 L -- FN-M-601 L
  • Definition tasks: none listed

Segments and sub-architectures

Priority

Priority bin 3, overall prioritization rating 25 of 57. The rating is "the gap's location in the prioritized list of gaps", so 1 is the highest priority, and bins group gaps of similar priority, bin 1 highest. Criticality, urgency, breadth and depth set the order; cost is not considered (ADD Rev C, pp. 78, 199; method on the gaps index).

Moon Base relevance

Not established by the sources so far. The Users Guide does not name #0808 among its near-term Moon Base challenges (Technology and knowledge challenges).

Sources

Tech gaps spreadsheet, ESDMD #0808 · ADD Rev C, pp. 78, 199, 243 · Lunar Mobility Drivers and Needs, PDF pp. 3–4