Airlocks for lunar Extravehicular Activity (EVA) will be significantly different than previous designs. Until now, airlocks operated infrequently and only in the "clean" weightless environment, but lunar airlocks are planned to be used much more often (every other day) in a dusty, gravity environment. Concepts for airlocks were analyzed by the NASA, JSC Habitability Focus Element during recent lunar outpost studies. Three airlock types were identified; an Airlock (AL) or independent pressure vessel with one hatch to the outside and the other to the Habitat. A Suitlock (SL) which shares a pressure bulkhead with the Habitat allowing rear-entry suits to remain on the dusty side while the crew enters/exits the Habitat. The third option is the Suitport (SP) which offers direct access from the habitable volume into an externally mounted suit. The SP concept was not compared, however between the AL and SL, the AL was favored.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Lunar Habitat Airlock/Suitlock


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    11th Biennial ASCE Aerospace Division International Conference on Engineering, Science, Construction, and Operations in Challenging Environments ; 2008 ; Long Beach, California, United States


    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2008-09-04




    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    Lunar Habitat Airlock/Suitlock

    Griffin, Brand Norman | NTRS | 2008


    Development of a Partial Gravity Lunar Airlock

    Gutierrez, D. J. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1994


    Airlock

    H. R. Linderfelt | NTIS | 1972


    Airlock

    Linderfelt, H. R. | NTRS | 1974


    Airlock

    H. R. Linderfelt | NTIS | 1974