NASA unveils lunar surface train plan
NASA has announced plans to build the world's first lunar railway to efficiently transport cargo and resources between bases on the moon.
Flexible Levitation on a Track (FLOAT) - NASA
NASA's proposed lunar railway is named 'FLOAT (Flexible Levitation on a Track).' FLOAT is a system consisting of three layers of 'flexible film tracks' and an unpowered magnetic transport robot that floats on them.
The flexible film track is divided into a graphite layer that uses diamagnetic levitation to float the transport robot, a flex circuit layer that generates electromagnetic thrust to control the robot, and a thin-film solar panel layer that generates solar power.
The transport robot has no moving parts such as wheels or legs, and floats, so wear can be minimized. Each robot can transport various types of cargo at speeds of over 0.5 m/s, and a large-scale FLOAT system can move up to 100,000 kg of cargo or regolith (lunar sedimentary layer) over several kilometers per day.
Unlike conventional road and rail transport, FLOAT also has the advantage of avoiding major construction work on site.
NASA will design, build and test the prototype and continue development towards operationalization.
'Durable, long-life robotic transportation systems will be essential to routinely operate a sustainable lunar base in the 2030s, as envisioned in mission concepts such as NASA's Moon-Mars mission and Robotic Lunar Exploration 2,' NASA said.
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