HERACLES (Human-Enhanced Robotic Architecture and Capability for Lunar Exploration and Science) was a proposed robotic transport system to and from the

Moon The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It Orbit of the Moon, orbits around Earth at Lunar distance, an average distance of (; about 30 times Earth diameter, Earth's diameter). The Moon rotation, rotates, with a rotation period (lunar ...

by Europe (

ESA The European Space Agency (ESA) is a 23-member international organization devoted to space exploration. With its headquarters in Paris and a staff of around 2,547 people globally as of 2023, ESA was founded in 1975 in the context of European ...

), Japan (

JAXA The is the Japanese national air and space agency. Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on 1 October 2003. JAXA is responsible for research, technology development and launch of satellites into o ...

), and Canada ( CSA) that would feature a lander called the European Large Logistic Lander (EL3, or Argonaut), a Lunar Ascent Element, and a rover. The lander could be configured for different operations such as up to 1.5 tons of cargo delivery, sample-returns, or prospecting resources found on the Moon.

Lunar Gateway The Lunar Gateway, or simply Gateway, is a planned space station which is to be assembled in orbit around the Moon. The Gateway is intended to serve as a communication hub, science laboratory, and habitation module for astronauts as part ...

Argonaut The Argonauts ( ; ) were a band of heroes in Greek mythology, who in the years before the Trojan War (around 1300 BC) accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest to find the Golden Fleece. Their name comes from their ship, ''Argo'', named after ...

Project overview

ESA approved the HERACLES project in November 2019.Funding Europe's space ambitions.
Jeff Foust, ''The Space Review''. December 2019. Its first mission is expected to launch in 2030. The project will be the next phase of ESA's exploration program Terrae Novae (known as European Exploration Envelope Programme—E3P before 2021). The HERACLES transport system would leverage the

as a staging point. The architecture involved dispatching the EL3 lunar lander from Earth aboard an

Ariane 64 Ariane 6 is a European expendable launch system developed for the European Space Agency (ESA) and manufactured by a consortium of European companies, led by the prime contractor ArianeGroup. As part of the Ariane rocket family, it is operated ...

Europe keen to demonstrate Moon ambitions.
Jonathan Amos, ''BBC News''. 22 November 2019.

which would land on the Moon with a disposable descent module. The EL3 lander would have a landing mass of approximately and would be capable of transporting a Canadian robotic rover to explore, prospect potential resources, and load samples up to on the ascent module. to explore and collect more samples to load on the next EL3 lander.
Elizabeth Howell, ''Space''. 28 June 2019. The ascent module would then be refueled and paired with a new descent module dispatched from Earth. The second and third landings would each have payload available for alternate uses such as testing new hardware, demonstrating technology and gaining experience in operations. The 4th or 5th lander mission would provide a sample return. The project would require the development of a reusable lunar ascent engine, four of which could be clustered to power a reusable crewed or robotic lander in the future. Later missions would include a pressurised rover driven by astronauts and an ascent module for the crew to return to Earth. The key objectives of HERACLES included: *Preparing for human lunar missions by implementing, demonstrating, and certifying technology elements for human lunar landing, surface operations, and return. *Create opportunities for science, particularly sample return. *Gain scientific and exploration knowledge, particularly on potential resources. *Create opportunities to demonstrate and test technologies and operational procedures for future Mars missions.

System elements

The HERACLES EL3 lander concept would consist of the Lunar Descent Element (LDE), which would be provided by Japan's

, The rover, to be developed by the

Canadian Space Agency The Canadian Space Agency (CSA; ) is the national space agency of Canada, established in 1990 by the ''Canadian Space Agency Act''. The President of the Canadian Space Agency, president is Lisa Campbell (civil servant), Lisa Campbell, who took ...

(CSA), would have a mass of and would feature a "radioisotope power system" that would permit operations during the long and frigid lunar nights. The total spacecraft mass would be ≈ including fuel, with a payload of ≈.

Reusable ascent engine development

Nammo Nammo, short for Nordic Ammunition Company, is a Norwegian- Finnish aerospace and defence group specialized in production of ammunition, rocket engines and space applications. The company has subsidiaries in Finland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Sw ...

have been awarded a contract to evaluate engine performance requirements and 'find' the best engine design. The engine may be fed by electrically driven pumps, from low pressure propellant tanks, which may enable in-space refueling.

References

External links

Short video of the HERACLES transport system
at YouTube. {{Lunar rovers 2020s in spaceflight Artemis program Exploration of the Moon Projects established in 2019 European Space Agency European space programmes European Space Agency space probes Japanese space probes Space program of Japan

Project overview

System elements

Reusable ascent engine development

See also

References

External links