Experimental Landing Dynamics Analysis of Lunar Lander Considering Influence of Regolith on the Lunar Surface

Abstract

This paper describes experimental analysis of contact (impact) dynamics for lunar landing on regolith. In the current space development, space explorations are focused on by many space agencies in the world. Next lunar missions will be required to land on steep surface among rocks and craters. Then, contact dynamics model is much important for evaluation of landing mission. In this paper, a lander with four landing-gears was employed for the experiment. Numerical simulation results by the existing model and the experimental results have been evaluated from the view point of turning and overturning of a lander. Then, it has been noted that tip end (pad) shape of a landing gear much influences on lander motion. It is considered that contact force from regolith, especially in friction force, becomes small when the tip end of a landing gear penetrates in regolith. Such contact dynamics keeps a lander with four landing-gears from overturning.