Survey of Lunar Surface Mobility Systems

Many devices for lunar surface mobility have been proposed and some are currently being developed. This paper briefly describes the various concepts, presents expected performance capabilities, and discusses characteristics peculiar to each mobility system. The lunar environment in which transporters must operate is also described. Of principal interest are roving, flying, and hopping devices. Current activities and expected future developments are outlined. A comparison based on vehicle weights and excursion durations is made, and predictions on implementation of flight models are given.