Cableway for Lunar Surface Operations (CLSO)

The Cableway for Lunar Surface Operations (CLSO) is proposed to circumvent the locomotion challenges that traditional ground traversing systems have in Moon and Cislunar/planetary surface dusty environments; which decrease applicability; reduce operational lifetime; and restrict their use during night periods. The CLSO will be a key infrastructure element for the second phase of the Artemis campaign serving as an overhead platform set up around the lunar base camp that can move in X; Y; Z to perform and enable multiple functions from a high vantage point. The cableway is a very structurally efficient approach to hoist and transfer masses over long distances. The payload platform is rigged from the trolley carriage by six hoist cables like a Stewart platform to provide high stability. Dedicated interchangeable payload or platforms can be used for regolith excavation; manipulation; and transfer; or to move systems/goods or astronauts (cable car). For example; a platform with a robotic arm with a counterweight can be used to perform sensitive functions such as payload unloading; end effectors for joining or welding; and fluids transfer.

The Cableway for Lunar Surface Operations (CLSO) is an efficient relocatable/repositionable approach to build; transport; payload off-load and provide surface operations support to the first lunar base camp without the challenges of continuously traversing the terrain. A huge-scale XYZ servicing platform erected to support from above many operations on the Moon and Cislunar. The advantage over existing approaches is moving away from a ground traversing element to support surface operations from above the ground; which can be done more effectively in terms of power; structural design; object mass; reach; survivability of the lunar night; and equipment lifetime. After completing this project; the Artemis program will gain a very valuable surface element to complement and enable the construction of the rest and that can solve a big challenge such as an effective method to provide radiation shielding to surface habitats. The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter showed the world what a novel system operating above the ground could offer and complement ground-based systems; which is what the CLSO game changing concept would be demonstrating.

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