Pressurized Rover Airlocks

The ability for crewmembers to explore the surface of the Moon or Mars effectively on foot remains a significant test of any exploration design. The availability of a pressurized rover would substantially increase the range of exploration by space suited crewmembers. The design of the airlock systems or functions will facilitate crewmembers in accomplishing these efforts. The pressurized rover for planetary exploration incorporates three types of airlocks or pressure ports: the EVA airlock, the sample airlock and the habitat docking port. This paper conducts a survey of selected precedents in pressurized rover design and then analyzes the key issues for airlock design.