Interfaces

Interfaces:
(1) Mechanical/Electrical Interfaces:
For cargo applications, key relevant features of these standards include power standards for conditioned cargo, robotics interfaces for, and external mounting interfaces for “Orbital” Replacement Units (ORUs) such as Large ORU Robotic Interfaces (LORI) and Small ORU Robotic Interface (SORI). The LORI and SORI interfaces are referenced in the Rendezvous document of the International Deep Space Standards. New interfaces and standards may be driven by the optimization of cargo loading positions depending on the orientation of the landers. The landers may have low-slung payloads easily accessible from the surface or be mounted on an elevated flat deck of a descent module, or be at a significant elevation from relatively tall single-stage lander/ascent vehicles. Thus the mechanical attachments for the payloads may need to be either tailored to their orientation or require adapters to use a common interface.

(2) Packaging
Additionally, much like the definition of cargo containers on Earth that allow the ease of transport of quantities of commodities from planes to boats to trucks to destinations, further definition of convenient sizes of cargo containers is required for cargo supplies to be utilized for launch from their point of origin, in-space transportation, landing, and transport to the surface sire for their intended use. Additionally, defining the boundary conditions for commencing cargo operations should also be standardized. Those conditions include environmental conditions including lighting and dust from local disturbances to be able to discern visual cues and perform observations and resource availability such as power and communication windows with Earth.