We heard about fast-moving bullet trains in various countries. Now train will run on lunar surface!
Due to pollution and rising global warming, scientists are focused on finding an alternative to Earth. As an initial stage to that exploration, now scientists at NASA are planning to do something unimaginable. NASA is preparing to build durable robotic transport system for daily operations on lunar surface by 2030. “We want to build the first lunar railway system, which will provide reliable, autonomous, and efficient payload transport on the Moon,” NASA recently mentioned in its official website.
Technological advancements made civilization evolve faster. In this article, we will discuss about some incredible advancements in modern technologies by NASA.
NASA unveiled the plans for constructing Flexible Levitation on a Track (FLOAT) system. The first lunar railway station will be developed for efficient payload transport on the lunar surface.
Unlike traditional trains, these FLOAT robots will employ “unpowered magnetic levitation, utilising diamagnetic levitation to passively float over tracks,” as mentioned in NASA website.
Developed to operate in the harsh lunar environment autonomously, FLOAT promises minimal site preparation as well as adaptable track configurations. NASA envisions the FLOAT as a landmark for future lunar operations.
“FLOAT will operate autonomously in the dusty, inhospitable lunar environment with minimal site preparation, and its network of tracks can be rolled-up / reconfigured over time to match evolving lunar base mission requirements,” as mentioned in NASA website.
This is the next generation of large space observatories. These in-space observatories could potentially help investigating Earth-like exoplanets, young galaxies, as well as first-generation stars.
Mars has been a target as an alternate option for Earth since long time. This rocket will be used as a shielded, fast transits to Mars. Through innovative propulsion system, this plasma rocket will significantly reduce the travel time between one planet to others within solar system.
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This mega-constellation low-frequency radio telescope can potentially modify space exploration and astronomy. This is a combination of thousands of autonomous SmallSats that can measure the magnetic fields emitted from exoplanets as well as cosmic dark ages.
This is designed for outer planet exploration in an innovative approach. ScienceCraft has the potential to distribute quantum dot-based sensors throughout the surface of a solar sail, which will enable capturing unique images. This is believed to be a cost-effective approach to capture data across the solar system.
This technology can investigate a new in-space power sources. This may enable small space exploration and science spacecraft carrying bulky solar or even nuclear power systems.
“These diverse, science fiction-like concepts represent a fantastic class of Phase II studies. Our NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program (NIAC) fellows never cease to amaze and inspire, and this class definitely gives NASA a lot to think about in terms of what’s possible in the future,” said John Nelson, NIAC program executive at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
These are radically better and totally new concepts. The above-mentioned projects have already completed initial testing experiments. Meanwhile, NASA has previously partnered with SpaceX to develop a sustainable base on lunar surface.
These innovative projects marks a remarkable step forward for human habitation beyond Earth. The future is surely going to be exciting!
