Originally Posted by
TURIN
Does this rubber remain flexible at absolute zero temp?
I wrote "rubber" as a simple example, comressed gas (already present on the spacecraft), metal springs or pyrotechnics (which are not really expensive compared to the total cost of such a mission) would have done the job as well. And yes, these thigs add a little mass to the structure, thereby reducing the payload. As it is now, we have the maximum payload but lying horizontally on the moon, and therefore totally useless. Maybe they should have left those 125 stainless steel statues behind and installed a leg-spreading mechanism instead. But who am I to cosult spaceflight startup companies...