A Mars Odyssey

“It [the lunar base] also enables global partnerships, allows for maturation of in situ resource utilization, and results in a path that is much quicker in terms of future exploration,” Shana Dale, NASA Deputy Administrator, said at a 2006 December press conference.

NASA has decided that when the astronauts from Earth land on the Moon, they will be able to get around in not only style—but also speed—when collecting specimens and rocks. According to astronaut Mike Gernhardt, the lead for NASA’s extravehicular physiology systems and performance projects, as part of the revised lunar plans they are sending a pair of “pressurized rovers” that will allow the lunar team members to explore more of the moon while on location than by walking on two feet.

Solar power was not the only initiative for power that NASA has thought of when designing the two rovers, but also nuclear power as a main power supply as eventually it would be necessary for “building a successful encampment on Mars”. But—solar power it is at the present time, according to Cooke. Another discussion in the wings is to make the lunar lander and habitat both mobile so they could be moved for explorations, as our very own Native Americans originally did regarding weather changes or even hunting for food required at the time for survival.

More expensive than a Ferrari, according to Gernhardt, the rovers can cover about 596 miles in two weeks on the moon while having the ability to go for a three-day, seven-day, or two-week lunar camping trip away from their habitat base. Both rovers will always be deployed together, with two astronauts in each one, in case one should accidentally break down at a long distance from base. The pressurized cabin will allow the astronauts to drive around in their short sleeves, with a 10-minute set up for donning the suits to go outside the rover for exploration.

Needless to say, it will also be more comfortable and easy on the body, allowing the astronauts more of an opportunity to spend higher quality time processing lunar data. New space suits are being designed for comfort instead of “ cumbersome protection” that almost seems archaic with today’s standards. State-of-the-art design has allowed the 5,000-pound vehicles with pressurized seats to be able to fold down into beds if gone for extended stays.

When discussing the moon base in December of 2006, NASA stated the purpose of the moon base was to be part of the President’s 2004–outlined plan for the “Vision for U.S. Space Exploration”. It will be used to “allow for sustained human presence on the moon’s surface and help NASA and other agencies to prepare for future missions to Mars and beyond” according to the NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 20th, 2007 at 8:55 am and is filed under Mission Objectives, Space Agency News, The Gear to Get There. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.