System concepts for lunar exploration beyond current scheduled Apollo/LEM flights have been the object of study by both NASA and industry for several years. Notable is the Apollo Logistics Support System (ALSS), in which a lunar mobile laboratory (MOLAB), is considered as one of its pay-loads.
Preliminary design studies of the MOLAB system have demonstrated its feasibility. These studies have shown that for an optimum system, special emphasis should not be placed on any single subsystem such as mobility, and that trade-off must be made between MOLAB’s many subsystems.
Subsystem design characteristics and performance specifically covered are: mobility, power, cryogenic storage, life support cabin, astrionics, and tie-down and unloading subsystems.