Method of providing a lunar habitat from an external tank

• US 5,094,409 A
• Filed: 05/09/1990
• Issued: 03/10/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Bionetics Corporation, United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: The Bionetics Corporation, United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Hall, John B. Jr., Simonsen, Lisa C., Butterfield, Ansel J., Hypes, Warren D., Nealy, John E., King, Charles B.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAREFOOT, GALEN L
• Application Number:
  US07/520,193
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 244/2, 244/158 R, 244/158 A, 244/159, 244/163, 244/160, 244/161, 244/162, 244/172, 52/79.4, 52/79.5
• US Class Current: 244/159.6
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/002 Launch systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/105 Space science
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/12 manned
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/14 Space shuttles reusable launch rockets B64G1/006
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/402 Propellant tanks; Feeding propellants
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/4021 Tank construction; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/60 Crew or passenger accommodations

Abstract

A lunar habitat is provided by placing an external tank of an orbiter in a low Earth orbit where the hydrogen tank is separated from the intertank and oxygen tank which form a base structure. The base structure is then outfitted with an air lock, living quarters, a thermal control system, an environmental control and life support system, and a propulsion system. After the mounting of an outer sheath about the base structure to act as a micrometeoroid shield, the base structure is propelled to a soft landing on the moon. The sheath is mounted at a distance from the base structure to provide a space therebetween which is filled with regolith after landing. Conveniently, a space station is used to outfit the base structure. Various elements of the oxygen tank and intertank are used in outfitting.

Claims

1. A method for providing a lunar habitat comprising the steps of:

placing an external tank of an orbiter in a low Earth orbit, the external tank comprising a hydrogen tank, an oxygen tank, and an intertank which connects the hydrogen and oxygen tanks together;

separating the hydrogen tank from the intertank and oxygen tank which together form a base structure;

outfitting the base structure with an air lock, living quarters, a thermal control system, an environmental and life support system, and a propulsion system;

mounting an outer sheath about the base structure to act as a micrometeoroid shield; and

propelling the base structure to a soft landing on the moon using the outfitted propulsion system.

2. A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting step mounts the sheath at a distance from the base structure to provide a space therebetween;

and further including the step of filling the space with regolith after landing.

3. A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 1 and further including the step of moving the base structure to a higher Earth orbit before the outfitting step.

4. A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 3 wherein a space station is provided at the higher Earth orbit;

and further including the step of docking the base structure to the space station before the outfitting step.

5. A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 4 wherein the oxygen tank is provided with a manhole at a forward tip thereof and the space station is provided with a resource node;

and wherein the docking step includes the berthing of the oxygen tank to the resource node to provide access through the manhole to the interior of the oxygen tank.

6. A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 5 wherein the space station includes an environmental control and life support module connected to the resource node;

and further including the step of supplying a habitable atmosphere to the interior of the oxygen tank from the module during outfitting of the interior.

7. A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said separating step includes the step of venting the oxygen tank.

8. A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 7 wherein the separating step includes deactivation of a tumble valve system of the external tank, and removing of an explosive charge of a range-safety system from the external tank.

9. A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the separating step further includes the step of moving the hydrogen tank to a higher Earth orbit.

10. A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outfitting step includes the step of attaching sandwich panel flooring to opposite longitudinal portions of a slosh baffle of the oxygen tank.

11. A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein panel flooring for a floor is comprised of a plurality of foldable pieces, and wherein said outfitting step includes the steps of folding each piece, passing each piece through a manhole of the oxygen tank, and then unfolding each piece.

12. A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said outfitting step includes the steps of providing a door in the intertank and joining the air lock between the door in the intertank and an aft manhole of the oxygen tank.