HERACLES

The Human-Enhanced Robotic Architecture and Capability for Lunar Exploration and Science (HERACLES) mission is the product of an international study in the frame of ISECG activities. HERACLES is intended as a human-robotic architecture in the frame of preparations for human exploration activities on the lunar surface.

The objective of the project is to Αdvance the design concept and requirements specification of the HERACLES Rover Garage Element (RGE) to a level of maturity commensurate with the start of a phase-A.
The activity will result in the design of rover garage element, rover deployment mechanism, and sample container transfer mechanism.

Heron engineering is responsible for the primary structure design, design justification and performance assessment of the RGE structure. DLR and AVS are respectively responsible for the design of the rover deployment mechanism and the sample container transfer mechanism. The coordinator of the project is OHB System AG.

The following analyses are being performed by Heron Engineering:

All the panels of the RGE structure are sandwich panels with CFRP skin and aluminum honeycomb as core. Trade off studies are performed for the material of the CFRP skins as well as for the orientation of the plies in the laminate. The Tsai-Wu is used as a failure criteria for the plies.
The aluminum honeycomb is checked only for shear failure. Thicker or higher density core is used in the areas where failure occurs.