摘要 |
A space transport architecture (STA) for robotic operations on a planet. The STA comprises an earth launch vehicle (ELV) (10), adapted to carry a space transfer vehicle (STV) (15) and associated payloads (17) into low earth orbit (LEO). The space transfer vehicle (STV) (15), carried by the ELV (10), is adapted to carry associated payloads from LEO into planetary orbit and to dispense these payloads (17) from planetary orbit for landing in the locus of at least one planetary exploration site. At least one planetary lander (17) is carried by the STV. The lander (17) is adapted to carry a plurality of robotic operational platforms (58) and deploy these platforms in the locus of the exploration site. A plurality of robotic operational platforms (58) is carried by each of the landers (17). |