An Innovative Approach to Ensuring a Soft Landing of a Spacecraft on the Lunar Surface Using a Hybrid Shock Absorption System
Published: 01.07.2026
Authors: Tufan A., Pyatygo M.I., Ermakov V.Yu., Plaskeev N.A.
Published in issue: #7(175)/2026
Category: Aviation and Rocket-Space Engineering | Chapter: Design, Construction, Production, Testing, and Operation of Aircraft
The paper presents an innovative approach to ensuring a soft landing of a promising lunar spacecraft, based on the use of a rigid landing mechanism with a hybrid shock absorption system, and also conducts an analysis of the applicability of this technical solution in relation to existing analogues. The key system‑engineering requirements for the design of a landing device equipped with a hybrid shock absorption system are formulated. The results of mathematical modeling of soft landing dynamics are presented, performed using specially developed algorithmic software, taking into account variations in the components of touchdown velocities and the angle of inclination of the spacecraft relative to the landing surface.
EDN KTOQRJ
References
[1] Zelenyy L.M., Mitrofanov I.G., Tretyakov V.I. et al. Nauchnaya programma issledovaniy kosmicheskogo apparata «Luna‑25» [Scientific research program of the Luna-25 spacecraft]. In: Avtomaticheskiy kosmicheskiy apparat novogo pokoleniya «Luna-25» — ot issledovaniy k osvoeniyu lunnykh resursov [The new-generation automatic spacecraft Luna-25 — from research to lunar resource development]. Vol. 1. Zelenyy L.M., Efanov V.V., Shirshakov A.E. (eds.). Khimki, NPO Lavochkina Publ., 2023, pp. 8–28.
[2] JSC “NPO Lavochkina” [Electronic resource]. Available at: http://www.laspace.ru/
[3] Bagrov A.V., Leonov A.V. Problemy perekhoda ot issledovaniy Luny k eyo osvoeniyu [Problems of transition from lunar research to its exploration]. Vozdushno-kosmicheskaya sfera — Aerospace Sphere Journal, 2020, no. 3 (104), pp. 22–33. DOI: 10.30981/2587-7992-2020-104-3-22-33
[4] Smith M., Craig D., Herrmann N. et al. The Artemis program: An overview of NASA’s activities to return humans to the Moon. In: Proceedings of IEEE Aerospace Conference, 2020. DOI: 10.1109/AERO47225.2020.9172323
[5] Duggan M., Engle J., Moseman T. et al. A crewed lunar lander concept utilizing the SLS, Orion, and the cislunar Deep Space Gateway. In: Proceedings of IEEE Aerospace Conference, 2018. DOI: 10.1109/AERO.2018.8396422
[6] Bazhenov V.I., Osin M.I. Posadka kosmicheskih apparatov na planety [Landing of spacecraft on planets]. Moscow, Mashinostroenie Publ., 1978, 159 p.
[7] Kopal Z. The Moon in the Post-Apollo Era. Dordrecht, Holland, D. Reidel Publishing Company, 1978, 224 p.
[8] Zhang H., Li C., You J. et al. The investigation of plume-regolith interaction and dust dispersal during Chang’E‑5 descent stage. Aerospace, 2022, vol. 9, no. 7, p. 358. DOI: 10.3390/aerospace9070358
[9] Zupp G.A. An analysis and a historical review of the Apollo program lunar module touchdown dynamics. Houston, Texas, USA, NASA Johnson Space Center, January 2013, 98 p. Available at: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/documents/SP-2013-605.pdf (accessed May 6, 2026).
[10] Rogers W.F. Apollo lunar module landing gear. Houston, Texas, USA, NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, 1973, pp. 123–133. Available at: https://www.nasa.gov/ wp-content/uploads/static/history/alsj/LM_Landing%20Gear1973010151.pdf (accessed May 6, 2026).
[11] Malyshev V.V., Starkov A.V., Titkov M.A. Imitaciya myagkoj posadki v zemnykh usloviyah [Simulation of a soft landing in terrestrial conditions]. Trudy MAI, 2015, no. 79, p. 10. Available at: https://trudymai.ru/published.php?ID=55790 (accessed May 6, 2026).
[12] Petrov Yu.A., Breshev E.N., Sergeev D.V. Amortizaciya spuskaemyh apparatov pri posadke na poverhnosti planet [Depreciation of descent vehicles when landing on the surface of planets]. Trudy MAI, 2023, no. 133. Available at: https://trudymai.ru/published.php?ID=177654 (accessed May 6, 2026).
[13] Marek C., Piotr K., Krzysztof H. et al. Vision-based approach in contact modelling between the footpad of the lander and the analogue representing surface of Phobos. Sensors, 2021, vol. 21, no. 21, p. 7009. DOI: 10.3390/s21217009
[14] Pham V.L., Zhao J., Goo N.S. et al. Landing stability simulation of a 1/6 lunar module with aluminum honeycomb dampers. International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences, 2013, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 356 368. DOI: 10.5139/IJASS.2013.14.4.356
[15] Zhang Y., Zhao B., Yupeng Y. et al. Development and prospects of lander vibration‑damping structures. Recent Patents on Engineering, 2025, vol. 19, no. 8. DOI: 10.2174/0118722121314310240624043755
[16] Bazilevskiy A.T., Grigoriev E.I., Ermakov S.N. et al. Proektirovanie spuskaemykh avtomaticheskikh kosmicheskikh apparatov: Opyt razrabotki dialogovykh protsedur [Design of automatic descent spacecraft: Experience in developing dialogue procedures]. Moscow, Mashinostroenie Publ., 1985, 264 p.
[17] GOST 3057–90. Pruzhiny tarelchatye. Obschie tekhnicheskie usloviya [Disk springs. General specifications]. Moscow, IPK izdatelstvo standartov, 2003, 38 p.
[18] Shtokal A.O., Rykov E.V., Dobrosovestnov K.B. et al. Puti povysheniya nadyozhnosti raboty uzlov raskrytiya kosmicheskikh apparatov s otlozhennym srabatyvaniem [Ways of dependability enhancement of spacecraft deployment units with suspended actuation operating]. Vestnik NPO im. S.A. Lavochkina, 2017, no. 4 (38), pp. 60–67.
[19] Egorychev V.S., Suninov A.V. Zhidkostnye raketnye dvigateli maloy tyagi i ikh kharakteristiki [Liquid propellant low-thrust rocket engines and their characteristics]. Samara, SGAU Publ., 2014, 128 p.
[20] Bernikov A.S., Petrov Yu.A., Sergeev D.V. et al. Amortizatsiya avtomaticheskikh kosmicheskikh apparatov pri posadke na planety i ikh sputniki s uchetom uprugosti konstruktsii posadochnogo ustroistva [Depreciation of automatic spacecraft when landing on planets and their satellites, taking into account the elasticity of the landing device design]. Trudy MAI, 2021, no. 121. Available at: https://trudymai.ru/published.php?ID=162657 (accessed May 6, 2026).