Dynetics HLS

The Dynetics Autonomous Logistics Platform for All-Moon Cargo Access (ALPACA)—also known as Dynetics HLS[1]—is a crewed lunar lander under development by Dynetics and Sierra Nevada Corporation as well as a multitude of subcontractors for NASA's Artemis Program.

Dynetics ALPACA lunar lander
DesignerDynetics
Country of originUS
OperatorDynetics, NASA
ApplicationsCrew and cargo lunar lander
Specifications
Design life14-42 days
Crew capacity2-4
PowerSolar
Production
StatusMockup phase
Built1 full scale mockup
Related spacecraft
DerivativesCrew / cargo variants

In terms of physical size, the Dynetics design is the smallest of the three proposals funded by NASA in May 2020; however, it is the second largest in terms of development funding secured from NASA.[2] The design consists of a single main structure known as ALPACA and would rely on drop tanks to power a majority of the descent. The ALPACA would then ascend back into orbit and rendezvous with Orion or the Lunar Gateway. The ALPACA will also be used to deliver cargo such as ISRU technology, base modules and pressurized rovers to the surface.

History

Dynetics is one of three organizations developing a NASA-funded lunar lander design for the Artemis program over a 10-[3] to 12-month[4] period in 2020–2021, starting in May 2020.[4] If Dynetics completes the milestone-based requirements of the design contract, then NASA will pay them US$253 million in design development funding. The other teams selected were the 'National Team'—led by Blue Origin but including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Draper (with US$579 million in NASA design funding) and SpaceX (with US$135 million in NASA funding).[1][3][2]

At the end of the ten-month program on 28 February 2021,[4] NASA had planned to evaluate which contractors would be offered contracts for initial demonstration missions and select firms for development and maturation of their lunar lander system designs.[3][1] However, on 27 January 2021, NASA informed each of the HLS contractors that the original ten-month program would be extended two months to end on or before 30 April 2021.[4]

Design

Crew compartment

The Dynetics HLS[1] vehicle has a low crew cabin making ingress and egress very simple. The crew compartment also includes an integrated airlock to allow for easy EVA's without depressurizing the whole cabin. The crew cabin can be converted into a base module or a pressurized lunar rover. In September 2020 a full scale mockup of the lander was completed in order to test the interior layout and its ingress / egress capabilities.[5]

ULA's Vulcan Centaur

Launch vehicle

The ALPACA is designed to be launched on ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket. Vulcan launches the full ALPACA vehicle including its twin external propellant drop tanks to NRHO. Two more Vulcan launches transfer additional propellant from their Centaur upper stages into the lander in NRHO.[6][7] The ALPACA will then perform a translunar injection rocket burn maneuver to leave Earth orbit. Since the vehicle is still unmanned at this stage, a slow lunar transfer trajectory (travel time of up to three months) may be used in order to conserve propellant for the crewed landing. Alternatively, if available, a SLS Block 1B could launch the entire fully fueled lunar vehicle into lunar orbit using its Exploration Upper Stage.[8]

Reusability

The ALPACA is refueled in lunar orbit in two Vulcan Centaur flights. It is currently unknown if the expendable fuel tanks will be needed for each flight or if they will only be needed for the TLI burn from low earth orbit. The ALPACA can be reused for both crewed lunar landings and autonomous cargo landings. The first ALPACA will be reused autonomously after its first crewed landing as a proof of concept for NASA. In order to prevent boil-off, refueling and landing will take place in 2-3 week intervals. Long term, the ALPACA could be refueled from fuel created in-situ on the surface from lunar water ice.[7]

NASA technical review

The Dynetics HLS scored highest of the proposed landers in NASA's initial technical review in August 2020 The largest issue identified according to NASA is the advanced experimental thrust structure used in the Dynetic design, and that it could pose a threat to the development time as it relies on immature technology.[9][10]

See also

References
  1. Berger, Eric (30 April 2020). "NASA awards lunar lander contracts to Blue Origin, Dynetics—and Starship". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 13 May 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  2. "NASA Selects Blue Origin, Dynetics, and SpaceX Human Landers for Artemis". NASASpaceFlight.com. 1 May 2020. Archived from the original on 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  3. Potter, Sean (30 April 2020). "NASA Names Companies to Develop Human Landers for Artemis Missions". NASA. Archived from the original on 11 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. NextSTEP H: Human Landing System, NASA, 27 January 2021, retrieved 31 January 2021.
  5. Zafar, Ramish (2020-09-15). "Dynetics, SpaceX's Starship Competitor, Shows Off Lunar Lander Mockup". Wccftech. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  6. https://spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/space-flight/spacex-blue-origin-and-dynetics-compete-to-build-the-next-moon-lander
  7. "Dynetics to use in-space refueling for NASA lunar lander". SpaceNews. 2020-09-16. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  8. Sheetz, Michael (2020-08-19). "Meet Dynetics, the company racing against SpaceX and Blue Origin to return astronauts to the moon". CNBC. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  9. Mahoney, Erin (2020-04-30). "NASA Selects Blue Origin, Dynetics, SpaceX for Artemis Human Landers". NASA. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  10. Sheetz, Michael (2020-08-19). "Meet Dynetics, the company racing against SpaceX and Blue Origin to return astronauts to the moon". CNBC. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
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