Representative Image | Pic: Pixabay
As NASA aims to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024, the agency is looking to the US universities for lunar-focused research to bring about advancements in onsite resource utilisation and sustainable power solutions.
The US space agency on Monday said that it has selected six project proposals under its first-ever Lunar Surface Technology Research (LuSTR) solicitation. Our inaugural LuSTR opportunity targeted two technology areas within NASA s Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative that are essential to the agency s Artemis program, which will land the first woman and next man on the Moon, Walt Engelund, Deputy Associate Administrator for programmes in NASA s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) said in a statement.
Blue Origin and NASA team up for new lunar gravity testing capability
Shane McGlaun - Mar 10, 2021, 6:19am CST
One of the biggest challenges to prepare people and equipment to operate on the moon is gravity. Gravity on the lunar surface is one-sixth of what we experience on Earth. All personnel and equipment heading to the moon need to function in that significantly reduced gravity. While NASA can simulate the moon’s gravity using parabolic flights and centrifuges aboard suborbital vehicles, both methods only provide short periods of simulated lunar gravity.
NASA and Blue Origin are working on a better option that will provide longer-duration and larger-size missions simulating lunar gravity. The new lunar gravity testing capability is projected to be available in late 2022. The plan involves upgrading New Shepherd to allow the vehicle to use its reaction control system to impart rotation on the capsule.
Washington University to develop lunar resource utilization technology for NASA
Newswise Power and in-situ resources are two things humans will need as they explore deep space. How future astronauts use these commodities depends on the technology at hand. That’s why NASA is looking to U.S. universities including Washington University in St. Louis for lunar-focused research to bring about advancements in in-situ resource utilization and sustainable power solutions.
NASA announced March 8 that it has selected scientists at Washington University to build a rover-mounted drill sensor to quantify the 3D distribution of water at the moon’s south pole. A laser probe located at the bottom of the drill, capable of analyzing regolith, would quantify the amount of water and other chemicals present beneath the surface.
As NASA aims to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024, the agency is looking to the US universities for lunar-focused research to bring about advancements in onsite resource utilisation and sustainable power solutions.The US .
(Image: Shutterstock)
March 9, 2021 SHARE
Power and in-situ resources are two things humans will need as they explore deep space. How future astronauts use these commodities depends on the technology at hand. That’s why NASA is looking to U.S. universities including Washington University in St. Louis for lunar-focused research to bring about advancements in in-situ resource utilization and sustainable power solutions.
NASA announced March 8 that it has selected scientists at Washington University to build a rover-mounted drill sensor to quantify the 3D distribution of water at the moon’s south pole. A laser probe located at the bottom of the drill, capable of analyzing regolith, would quantify the amount of water and other chemicals present beneath the surface.