Molab

home
topic index

Molab
Credit - © Mark Wade

Other Designations: Moderate Capacity Mobile Laboratory. Manufacturer's Designation: Mobile Lunar Laboratory. Class: Manned. Type: Lunar rover. Destination: Moon. Nation: USA.

The moderate capacity mobile laboratory (MOLAB) concept was studied in two NASA/MT contracts to determine configurations and capabilities of vehicles in the 2950 to 3850 kg class. Designed for delivery by the LM Truck, MOLAB was to be capable of surviving six months quiescent storage on the lunar surface, and then be activated to support two men in a pressurized cabin on a 14-day mission with a 7-day stay time contingency in a stationary mode.

A typical configuration consisted of a four wheel vehicle having an internal pressurized volume of 12.8 m3 plus an additional 3.46 m3 airlock. The MOLAB would take advantage of any subsystem improvements evaluated in the Early Lunar Shelter studies such as cryogenic gas storage systems. In essence, a MOLAB related to an Early Lunar Shelter as the MOLEM to the LM shelter. Stay time or experimental payload was traded for mobility. Although the MOLAB was sized for a two man, 14 day mission, the concept could to establish tradeoffs of crew size and stay time in terms of weight and subsystem requirements. A three man 21 day 900 km traverse would require a MOLAB weighing 3810 kg. Average speed would be 10 kph and 320 kg of scientific experiments drawing 112 kW-hr of power could be accommodated. Mass breakdown was as follows:

Fixed Equipment

Structure: 636 kg
Power supply: 220 kg
Mobility: 1,485 kg
EC/LSS: 324 kg
Astrionics: 320 kg
Subtotal: 2985 kg

Expendables

Hydrogen for power: 88 kg
Oxygen for power: 347 kg
Oxygen for crew: 216 kg
Others (food, LiOH, etc): 174 kg
Subtotal: 825 kg

Total: 3810 kg

Another variant would take two men up to a total range of 396 km at a maximum velocity of 16 km/hr on compacted soils, 9.8 km/hr on maria. Turn radius 7 m; locomotion energy .39 k2-hr/km in uplands. 3,732 kg total mass breakdown: 1,036 kg cabin systems; 825 kg mobility; 282 kg power; 210 kg electronics; 340 kg scientific equipment; 466 kg for Lunar Flying Vehicle (rocket platform for emergency return to LM Taxi); 126 kg for tie downs; and 437 kg for expendables (fuel cell propellants and crew oxygen).

Crew Size: 2. Design Life: 30 days. Length: 6.15 m (20.17 ft). Maximum Diameter: 3.18 m (10.43 ft). Habitable Volume: 5.66 m3. Mass: 3,732 kg (8,227 lb). Electrical System: Fuel Cells. Electric System: 160.00 kWh.

Bibliography:

Baker, David, The History of Manned Spaceflight, Crown, New York, 1981.
Henderson, C William, Advanced in the Astronautical Sciences, Vol 18, "Extended Lunar Exploration", 1964, p 615.
National Space Goals for Post-Apollo Period, House of Representatives Hearings, 1965.
Arthur, George R, Advanced in the Astronautical Sciences, Volume 10, "Lunar Spacecraft Designs", 1963, p. 52.
Salter, Thomas R, Advanced in the Astronautical Sciences, Vol 18, "Advanced Lunar Transportation Systems", 1964 / NASA Contract NAS8-5027.
Evans, Thomas C, Advanced in the Astronautical Sciences, Vol 18, "Extended Lunar Exploration", 1964, p 480.
NASA Report, Molab Tiedown Study, Web Address when accessed: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19660006052_1966006052.pdf.

Contact us with any corrections, additions, or comments.

Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site..
To contact astronauts or cosmonauts.

© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.

Molab

Molab
Credit- NASA