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NASA's New Lunar Rover in Action

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."

3 of 96 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Moonbases, men on Mars, and flying cars by elrous0 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    No, they've spent the last 35 years just doing enough to justify their budget each year and making grandiose promises to keep people interested. They know damn well they're not going to the moon or Mars. It's all just PR and budget hearings for them now.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  2. Legitimate Question. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why do we not try and 'pave' parts of the moon we want to land on? Ok, granted it'd probably be pretty difficult (rocket science and all that...) to land in the exact same 30m x 30m grid every time, but the point remains. If we have so many concerns about moon dust and what damage it can cause, why don't we solidify a large section of the top layer?

    I refuse to believe I'm the first person to suggest this, but I have yet to see it mentioned anywhere else.

    My suggestion, since that's what your thinking at this point, is some type of ceramic.

  3. Looks fairly stable, but... by TomRC · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think it really needs a roll-bar or cage to protect the lunar worker. Our terrestrial intuitions about what looks stable may not be accurate for the mooon.