NASA's New Lunar Rover in Action 96
holy_calamity writes "New Scientist has video of Nasa's new Chariot lunar rover in action on simulated moon surface in Houston. As the associated story explains, the two-ton "truck" has a top speed of 20km/hour and is currently fitted with a plough, with additional back hoe and drill attachments to come. Sure it's not glamorous — more of a lunar tractor — but sure looks handy for establishing that permanent moon base NASA wants."
Re:Energy Shields Activate! (Score:1, Informative)
Re:Legitimate Question. (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Energy Shields Activate! (Score:5, Informative)
Probability on an impact is fairly low. Still would be a consideration which probably results in building (initial) permanent settlements underground. Radiation is a bigger concern, since lethal doses are possible every time energy from an x class solar flare hits the lunar surface.
Build your shelter then cover it with lunar regolith.
Burrow tunnel and build shelter underground
Dig into side of crater and build shelter into crater wall.
your choice. Simply Choose one
There's always risk. Every 100 years or so a rock big enough to do considerable damage gets through Earth's atmosphere. Every few years a storm big enough to do considerable damage hits a major population center. Hell, we live on a molten ball of rock with a crust that's only 30 or so miles thick. Tomorrow the east coast of the U.S. (where I live) could be wiped out by a tsunami.
Re:'...Currently fitted with a plough' (Score:5, Informative)
More interesting (for me, at least) is for excavation. The plow is used to strip the top layer of loose regolith so that a mining attachment can dig up the compacted stuff. There is evidence of water ice near the poles as well as He-3, so an effective cutterhead and muck retriever could collect resource-laden material. I just so happen to be lead mechanical engineer on such a Chariot-attachable mining module.
Re:Legitimate Question. (Score:2, Informative)
here's the NS article:
http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn8320-lunar-lawnmower-to-deal-with-moon-dust-menace-.html/ [newscientist.com]
I've actually laid hands on this thing, (Score:4, Informative)
Russia had impressive Rovers in 1970s (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Russia had impressive Rovers in 1970s (Score:3, Informative)