[Back]


Talks and Poster Presentations (with Proceedings-Entry):

B. Imhof, S. Ransom, N. Frischauf, S. Häuplik-Meusburger, W. Hoheneder, S. Mohanty, K. Özdemir, R. Waclavicek:
"Rama - Rover For Advanced Mission Applications";
Talk: International Astronautical Federation - IAC 2010, Prague, Czech Republic (invited); 09-27-2010 - 10-01-2010; in: "Proceedings of the 61th IAC (International Astronautical Congress)", IAF, (2010), Paper ID IAC-10-E5.3.1, 10 pages.



English abstract:
The work described in this paper was done under an ESA and Thales Alenia Space contract within the framework of the study "Analysis of Surface Architecture for European Space Exploration - Element Design." It deals with the design of a rover, named in memory of the late Sir Arthur C. Clark, RAMA (Rover for Advanced Mission Applications, Rover for Advanced Moon Applications, Rover for Advanced Mars Applications), for future manned space missions to the moon or Mars. The rover serves as a habitat, a refuge and a research laboratory/workshop and as transport for the astronauts in a controlled and protected environment and in relative comfort during surface traverses of these planetary bodies. The results of these analyses were subsequently used in an investigation of various designs from which a single concept was developed that satisfied scientific as well as environmental requirements encountered during surface exploration of the moon and Mars. The rover meets the scientific and operational requirements defined during the course of the Surface Architecture Study. It is designed for surface
missions with a crew of two or three lasting up to approximately 40 days, its source of energy, a liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen fuel cell, allowing it to be driven and operated during the day as well as the night. Guidance, navigation and obstacle avoidance systems are foreseen as standard equipment to allow it to travel safely over rough
terrain at all times of the day. The rover allows extra-vehicular activity and a remote manipulator is provided to recover surface samples, to deploy surface instruments and equipment and, in general, to assist the astronauts´ field activities wherever and whenever needed. The vehicle has also been designed to have a very high degree of manoeuvrability. In addition, RAMA may be operated and replenished from a fixed site base or co-operate with other rovers of the same type to provide a mobile base. The rover in all cases will be refuelled using the products supplied by an in situ resources facility.

German abstract:
The work described in this paper was done under an ESA and Thales Alenia Space contract within the framework of the study "Analysis of Surface Architecture for European Space Exploration - Element Design." It deals with the design of a rover, named in memory of the late Sir Arthur C. Clark, RAMA (Rover for Advanced Mission Applications, Rover for Advanced Moon Applications, Rover for Advanced Mars Applications), for future manned space missions to the moon or Mars. The rover serves as a habitat, a refuge and a research laboratory/workshop and as transport for the astronauts in a controlled and protected environment and in relative comfort during surface traverses of these planetary bodies. The results of these analyses were subsequently used in an investigation of various designs from which a single concept was developed that satisfied scientific as well as environmental requirements encountered during surface exploration of the moon and Mars. The rover meets the scientific and operational requirements defined during the course of the Surface Architecture Study. It is designed for surface
missions with a crew of two or three lasting up to approximately 40 days, its source of energy, a liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen fuel cell, allowing it to be driven and operated during the day as well as the night. Guidance, navigation and obstacle avoidance systems are foreseen as standard equipment to allow it to travel safely over rough
terrain at all times of the day. The rover allows extra-vehicular activity and a remote manipulator is provided to recover surface samples, to deploy surface instruments and equipment and, in general, to assist the astronauts´ field activities wherever and whenever needed. The vehicle has also been designed to have a very high degree of manoeuvrability. In addition, RAMA may be operated and replenished from a fixed site base or co-operate with other rovers of the same type to provide a mobile base. The rover in all cases will be refuelled using the products supplied by an in situ resources facility.

Keywords:
Extra-terrestrial Habitats, Human Activities, Evaluation, Design-in-Use, Astronaut

Created from the Publication Database of the Vienna University of Technology.