Concept Lunar Surface Vehicle

These images are a rendition of the LSV - the Lunar Surface Vehicle.  The LSV is a cargo vessel dispatched on a WSB (Weak Stability Boundary) lunar orbit that allows for about a 25% increase in the payload we can deliver to the moon's surface.

 

This first image is a view of the LSV pressure vessel - the main airlock and storage space.  The LSV will be landed near the Marius Pit and  placed in a suitable spot.  Robotic construction systems will be extracted from the storage spaces and used to construct a habitation dome for the crewed mission(s) to follow.

 

Flight configuration of the LSV.  The main engine module is attached to the aft section of the LSV pressure vessel which is the primary storage space.

 

A view of the LSV with the landing system deployed.  Wheeled landing systems allow for precise placement of the  LSV prior to robot extraction and construction of the hab.  Note the storage tanks on the top which contain consumables for the hab when constructed - primarily air and water.

 

A view of the  LSV packaged for launch.  The shaded area represents the available volume of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch Vehicle - the planned delivery system of the LSV to Low Earth Orbit.

 

Cutaway section of the LSV.  The forward section is the main airlock for crew access into and out of the habitation dome.  The aft section is the primary storage section and gives access to the main airlock from the hab.

Expedition Overview

This diagram gives a brief overview of the Expedition.  Basically, the mission will consist of two separate vehicles, a cargo vessel called the LSV, or Lunar Surface Vehicle, and the crewed lander  called the LTV, or Lunar transfer Vehicle.

Both vehicles are assembled in Low Earth Orbit and use a single High Energy Upper Stage we are developing that will boost the systems into TLI (Trans-Lunar Injection) and send them to the moon.

The LSV goes first, sent on a 90-day low energy, Weak Stability Boundary orbit that will allow a 25% increase of payload to the Lunar surface than more traditional, and familiar, high energy trasnfers.  The cargo includes supplies for an extended stay mission (75 days or more), but also contains two construction robots and the material and systems to create a 3D printed habitat.  Upon landing, the robots will be used to construct the hab and make it airtight.

Upon completion of the hab, and successful systems checkout, the second vehicle will be dispatched.  This is the crewed LTV.  Initially, a booster stage will be launched to LEO.  When it comes time to send the crew, the crew vehicle, consisting of the LTV, a command module and capsule that will return the crew to Eart, and a orbital transfer stage to bring them back from the moon, will be launched to LEO and mated to the booster before being sent to the moon.

More detail can be found at www.rimamarius.com

Just posted this video to youtube about the Expedition...

I’ve always been disappointed with the pace of pace of space exploration.  I mean, I was a child of Apollo and thought that by the time I grew up there would be space stations and lunar bases and even space colonies!

But it’s been 40 years since Apollo, and we’re nowhere near that dream.

What happened?

Well, to put it simply, space is expensive.  Really expensive. And, depending on who is elected, government programs change so quickly no one is will to spend the money and make the commitment for long term development.  And it’s just too expensive for private companies.

That is – until now.

Together with some other space enthusiasts and other space professionals, we think we’ve figured it out. We plan to go back to the moon, and have backed up our ideas with a technical – and financial – plan that works.

In fact, there’s never been anything like it.  We have put together a plan that will not only get us to the moon but could possibly finance a sustainable exploration program like nothing ever seen.

Named for the region around the Marius Crater in Oceanus Procellarum, Rima Marius is a group of space entrepreneurs and explorers who are completely committed to our cause.  We have combined a public, crowdfunding-like campaign to raise money to seed an investment fund and then, when we meet our goals, lined up private investors to raise even more.  Enough to cover the costs of development and get us back to the moon in the next 8 years.

It’s about time.  Check us out at www.RimaMarius.com

Government Shutdowns – a Boon for Private Space Exploration?

The US Government has shut down and nearly all of NASA has been put on leave - indefinitely.  Although I have long despaired of how politics in America impacts the consistency and sustainability of an effective space exploration program, this is by far the most egregious example of why so little has been done to promote a permanent human presence in space since Apollo (true – there is the ISS, but compared to what the future promised in the 60’s and 70’s …). Regardless of how you feel about the current political situation, it cannot be denied that governments at times can be their own worst enemies.  Their inability to find solutions to pressing issues is nothing new, but it is frustrating.  And the impact these actions have on lower priority programs – like space exploration – is devastating.    

But is this actually a blessing in disguise?  Might it signal an opportunity for private organizations to pick up the slack?  Can private space companies develop, promote and fund exploration programs without government support ? 

SpaceX is trying.  But, at its core, SpaceX is a space operations company rather than a space exploration company.  Their ability to push exploration is really based on two things:

1.       US Government space operations contracts, and

2.       Elon Musk’s pocketbook.

Without a contract from the US Government to supply the International Space Station, the development of the Dragon, the Grasshopper, and the Red Dragon (a Spacex Mars Lander program) would be totally reliant on Elon Musk and his financial backers.  That wealth alone cannot possibly fund an extensive – and sustainable – exploration and development program.  In other words, the success of the SpaceX operations arm, and its government funding, drives the success of the Exploration and Development arm.

So can private enterprise create a sustainable and effective space exploration program without government backing?  Direct investment in these enterprises has historically been through wealthy individuals or angel investors, not from a broad investor base.  The primary reason?  High financial risk with little upside.  The only way to fund private space exploration initiatives, therefore, is through indirect investment.  A consistent application of outside funding.  An endowment, if you will.  But space exploration is really expensive – so it needs to be a really BIG endowment!

At Rima Marius, we have created that endowment.  www.starfund.coThe STAR Fund (Space Technology and Research Fund) is an independent financial management company that is focused on high growth/high income investments.  These investments, when completely funded, will provide a consistent annual income that can be used to further space exploration initiatives – without government funding or political gamesmanship.

When there is clear initiative and focused support, there is little that a government cannot do (think Apollo).  But without that clear initiative, and without broad, bipartisan support, governments can more often impede, rather than promote, progress.  This most recent shutdown should remind us of that fact.  And perhaps – just perhaps – change the focus to private opportunities.

About Rima Marius: Rima Marius is a US based private space exploration company founded in 2013 with the objective of undertaking a manned expedition to the Moon.  It is named after the Marius Hills region of the Moon that is the target of the Expedition.  Details about the Company and the Rima Marius Lunar Expedition may be found at the company’s website at www.Rimamarius.com