NASA needs your help to fit payloads on tiny lunar rovers, each machine about the size of a Roomba. A new challenge called “Honey, I Shrunk the NASA Payload” asks companies to come up with ways to get data-gathering implements on to this tiny space. It will be the ultimate challenge in miniaturization, because each rover experiment will be only the size of a bar of soap. The payloads will need to contend with limited power, limited space and a harsh lunar environment that is extremely cold and full of radiation. But the reward is high-profile. Your payloads will potentially help NASA astronauts with their moonwalks, as the agency plans to set boots on the moon again in 2024. A fleet of robot helpers will help in this phase of lunar exploration, contrasting with the “old school” approach of the 1960s and 1970s that saw astronauts drive rovers, pull carts full of supplies, and do all the experiment setup and moon rock collection themselves. Participating companies will likely also see themselves part of a larger commercial ecosystem full of private companies supporting research and supply logistics. For example, NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program would see firms deploying landers and rovers on the moon for supplies as well as scientific experiments. In the more distant future, lunar resources could be mined for valuable resources such as helium-3, which is more abundant on the moon than on the Earth.
-
Archives
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- June 2022
- January 2022
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
-
Meta