L2-STR-FAST
ESSENTIAL
STRUCTURAL
Level 2 · hardware
Fasteners and Connections
Structural Fastener and Connection System
Bolted joints, welded joints, seals, and gaskets for structural assembly
Purpose
Connect structural elements and maintain sealed joints over 100-year thermal cycling
Context
Component of L1-STR within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸Preloaded bolted joints maintain clamp force under thermal cycling and vibration
- ▸Titanium and Inconel fasteners resist cold welding in vacuum environment
- ▸Locking features (wire, deformed thread, adhesive) prevent self-loosening
- ▸Standardized fastener sizes reduce inventory requirements
Typical implementations
- ▸Aerospace fastener standards (NAS, MS series)
- ▸ISS structural fastener specifications and torque requirements
- ▸Anti-galling coatings for titanium fasteners (silver plating, MoS2)
- ▸Space-rated rivets and weld joints for permanent connections
Lunar considerations
- ▸Cold welding in vacuum requires anti-galling treatments on all mating metal surfaces
- ▸Thermal cycling causes differential expansion potentially loosening fasteners
- ▸Robotic-compatible fastener heads enable autonomous maintenance
- ▸100-year fatigue life requires careful preload management and material selection
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Connect structural elements and maintain sealed joints over 100-year thermal cycling |
Operational
| thermal range c | -173, 127 |
| lifetime years | 100 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Structural connections throughout Ark assembly
Requires
- Replacement fasteners manufactured from ISRU metals
Decomposes into
L3-STR-FAST-BOLT
Structural Bolts
High-strength bolts providing preloaded structural connections throughout Ark assembly
L3-STR-FAST-RIVET
Structural Rivets
Riveted connections for permanent structural joints where bolts are not practical
L3-STR-FAST-LOCK
Fastener Locking Features
Locking features preventing fastener loosening from vibration and thermal cycling
L3-STR-FAST-COAT
Fastener Anti-Galling Coatings
Anti-galling and corrosion-resistant coatings enabling reliable fastener use in vacuum
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Fasteners and Connections" (L2-STR-FAST). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L2-STR-FAST
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.