3 ms·

Why can't you make a spherical lander? With some moving masses on the inside to roll around? (Clearly I'm not an engineer)

theultdev 3y ago
That's basically the SLIM's LEV-2. Not a lander itself, but a small rover. https://www.space.com/jaxa-slim-moon-lander-lev-2-ball-robot https://www.space.com/jaxa-slim-moon-lander-lev-2-ball-robot There's also the method of dropping a ball of airbags that deflate and detach, so you aren't limited to being a ball. I assume it's more efficient and versatile (lots of tools on these things) to not be a ball. You basically want a small truck loaded with equipment and a solar panel on top.
- knodi123 3y ago
  isn't regolith microscopic and sharp? A sealed ball that rolls around is one thing, but wouldn't a non-sealed ball just get its motor shredded pretty quickly?
  - serf 3y ago
    I remember reading before that given the consistency and weight of moon dust that electrostatic protection of assets is viable. I guess the concept would be to surround the motors in a electrostatic force that results in propulsive removal of particulates away from the drivetrain. I don't know if it has been practically used.
    - knodi123 3y ago
      ah, nice tip! https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094576523001133 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00945...
panick21_ 3y ago
You can. But landing isn't the only issue. You have lots of things you need to take into account. For example, at some point you need to be in the right position for your communication and power needs. The payloads need to handle rolling around. Lots of reasons. Its a very invasive solution for one particular problem but doesn't help and makes other things harder. If you don't slow down, being round want help you when splatting on the ground. At the end of the day, we can make landing of the moon reliable with other methods that are less invasive and thus less costly. The solution you suggest is one that you use if you don't have any good options left.
JumbledHeap 3y ago
You can, this is how the Soviets achieved the first ever lunar landing (with help from airbags). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_9 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_9

theultdev 3y ago

That's basically the SLIM's LEV-2. Not a lander itself, but a small rover. https://www.space.com/jaxa-slim-moon-lander-lev-2-ball-robot https://www.space.com/jaxa-slim-moon-lander-lev-2-ball-robot There's also the method of dropping a ball of airbags that deflate and detach, so you aren't limited to being a ball. I assume it's more efficient and versatile (lots of tools on these things) to not be a ball. You basically want a small truck loaded with equipment and a solar panel on top.

knodi123 3y ago
isn't regolith microscopic and sharp? A sealed ball that rolls around is one thing, but wouldn't a non-sealed ball just get its motor shredded pretty quickly?
- serf 3y ago
  I remember reading before that given the consistency and weight of moon dust that electrostatic protection of assets is viable. I guess the concept would be to surround the motors in a electrostatic force that results in propulsive removal of particulates away from the drivetrain. I don't know if it has been practically used.
  - knodi123 3y ago
    ah, nice tip! https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094576523001133 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00945...

panick21_ 3y ago

You can. But landing isn't the only issue. You have lots of things you need to take into account. For example, at some point you need to be in the right position for your communication and power needs. The payloads need to handle rolling around. Lots of reasons. Its a very invasive solution for one particular problem but doesn't help and makes other things harder. If you don't slow down, being round want help you when splatting on the ground. At the end of the day, we can make landing of the moon reliable with other methods that are less invasive and thus less costly. The solution you suggest is one that you use if you don't have any good options left.

JumbledHeap 3y ago

You can, this is how the Soviets achieved the first ever lunar landing (with help from airbags). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_9 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_9