Lunar Lander Project

1. Lunar Lander Project Patrick Thurston and David Cobler

2. Problem • Design and build Lunar Landing gear for a small cube-satellite. • Design and build latching system to hold the lunar lander section to the thruster. • Design and build a testing apparatus for the landing gear.

3. Solution • Design the landing gear to deploy once with no self-retracting capability. • Use ultra lightweight and super strong Carbon-Epoxy for construction. • Use nylon line for latching the cube-sat to the thruster. • Design and build a testing apparatus to repeatedly test and monitor simulated landings.

4. Technical Details • The landing gear must be mounted on the exterior of the cube-sat with minimal clearances and must remain as light weight as possible. • Carbon-Epoxy composite was chosen for it’s superior Yield Stress/Density.

5. System Design Another small motor will be used to retract the landing gear for another test. A small motor will be used to spool the Lunar Tester to the proper height for release.

6. Mechanical Aspects • The design for the landing gear will be crucial in designing the lander to be as light weight as possible. • The landing gear will be spring loaded, and most likely hinged. • The testing apparatus will require a sturdy frame for testing, 2 electric motors with couplings and disengagable clutches.

7. Electrical • Two small electric motors • One to lift the Lander Tester to be dropped repeatedly • One to retract the landing mechanism for repeated testing • A PLC to automate the testing and record the data received • Several sensors to record the data and make sure that no failures have occurred.

8. Budget • A grant through NASA allows us to use the best materials available, but in the most cost effective way.

9. Time Management

10. Questions?