http://luna-ci.com/2009/new-google-lunar-x-prize-team-announced-synergy-moon-becomes-17-brings-back-lunar-direct-in-the-process/ News and features on what's happening on the Moon in the next 20 years, and why Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:09:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 http://luna-ci.com/2009/new-google-lunar-x-prize-team-announced-synergy-moon-becomes-17-brings-back-lunar-direct-in-the-process/#comment-47 New Details on SYNERGY MOON and Their Lunar-Direct Google Lunar X PRIZE Effort « Luna C/I: Moon Colonization and Integration Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:13:18 +0000 http://luna-ci.com/?p=426#comment-47 [...] additional details and clarification (through an interview with Space Fellowship and a subsequent comment on a post here at Luna C/I covering the announcement) on their private lunar effort, and [...] [...] additional details and clarification (through an interview with Space Fellowship and a subsequent comment on a post here at Luna C/I covering the announcement) on their private lunar effort, and [...]

]]> http://luna-ci.com/2009/new-google-lunar-x-prize-team-announced-synergy-moon-becomes-17-brings-back-lunar-direct-in-the-process/#comment-46 Randa Milliron, CEO, IOS Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:06:54 +0000 http://luna-ci.com/?p=426#comment-46 From the technology standpoint, details on the rockets and space hardware that will power the SYNERGY MOON team’s mission can be found at www.interorbital.com. Launch provider Interorbital Systems will use what is called a ‘lunar-direct’ launch of a variant of its modular NEPTUNE rocket to carry a lunar lander (the rocket's fifth stage) and rover to the surface of the Moon before the end of 2012. In a recent Space Fellowship interview, Randa Milliron elaborated on mission’s flight characteristics. “We’ll very likely take off from the South Pacific Ocean near the Kingdom of Tonga. The launch involves a direct ascent from the Earth into a ballistic trajectory, and ends with a direct descent to the Moon’s surface. This is called a First Revolution Elliptical Lunar Transfer Trajectory, with the Moon arriving at the apoapsis at the same time as the lander. After touchdown on the Moon, the lander will deploy the rover. This method differs from the Apollo missions, which used an Earth Parking Orbit and a Lunar Parking Orbit (going into orbit around the Moon before deploying a lander to the surface). We have a weight penalty, but this method reduces the complexity of the mission while increasing its probability of success. In addition, our mobile ocean-launch method allows us to chose and vary the launch point, which gives us flexibility in terms of launch windows.” From the technology standpoint, details on the rockets and space hardware that will power the SYNERGY MOON team’s mission can be found at http://www.interorbital.com. Launch provider Interorbital Systems will use what is called a ‘lunar-direct’ launch of a variant of its modular NEPTUNE rocket to carry a lunar lander (the rocket’s fifth stage) and rover to the surface of the Moon before the end of 2012. In a recent Space Fellowship interview, Randa Milliron elaborated on mission’s flight characteristics. “We’ll very likely take off from the South Pacific Ocean near the Kingdom of Tonga. The launch involves a direct ascent from the Earth into a ballistic trajectory, and ends with a direct descent to the Moon’s surface. This is called a First Revolution Elliptical Lunar Transfer Trajectory, with the Moon arriving at the apoapsis at the same time as the lander. After touchdown on the Moon, the lander will deploy the rover. This method differs from the Apollo missions, which used an Earth Parking Orbit and a Lunar Parking Orbit (going into orbit around the Moon before deploying a lander to the surface). We have a weight penalty, but this method reduces the complexity of the mission while increasing its probability of success. In addition, our mobile ocean-launch method allows us to chose and vary the launch point, which gives us flexibility in terms of launch windows.”

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