L2-STR-LOCK
ESSENTIAL
STRUCTURAL
Level 2 · hardware
Airlock Systems
Airlock and Pressure Transition System
Robotic airlocks with dust management vestibules and pressure equalization
Purpose
Enable robot ingress/egress while maintaining interior pressure and cleanliness
Context
Component of L1-STR within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸Dual-door design with interlock prevents simultaneous opening of both doors
- ▸Pump-down and repressurization cycles conserve atmosphere during transitions
- ▸Robotic-compatible door handles and controls enable autonomous operation
- ▸Emergency quick-close capability protects against rapid depressurization events
Typical implementations
- ▸ISS Quest Joint Airlock design and operations
- ▸NASA Gateway airlock concepts for lunar surface access
- ▸Submarine escape trunk design principles
- ▸Industrial vacuum chamber load-lock systems
Lunar considerations
- ▸Primary use is robotic transit between interior and exterior, not human EVA
- ▸Dust management during airlock cycling is critical to prevent interior contamination
- ▸Pump-down recovery of atmosphere reduces gas losses over 100-year mission
- ▸Seal reliability over decades of cycling in dusty lunar environment
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Enable robot ingress/egress while maintaining interior pressure and cleanliness |
Operational
| thermal range c | -173, 127 |
| lifetime years | 100 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Robotic transit between pressurized and vacuum environments
Requires
- Power for airlock mechanisms and pumps
- Dust management during airlock cycling
Decomposes into
L3-STR-LOCK-DOOR
Airlock Door Assembly
Pressure-rated doors with dual redundant seals for airlock entry and exit
L3-STR-LOCK-PUMP
Airlock Pump System
Pump system recovering atmosphere during airlock depressurization to minimize gas losses
L3-STR-LOCK-SEAL
Airlock Seal System
Door seal assemblies with provisions for robotic inspection and replacement
L3-STR-LOCK-CTRL
Airlock Control System
Control system automating airlock cycling sequence with safety interlocks
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Airlock Systems" (L2-STR-LOCK). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L2-STR-LOCK
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.