NASA Planning Lunar Mining Tests, Other New Tech

FleaPlus writes "NASA has released the initial details on its ETDD (Enabling Technology Development and Demonstrations) program to 'develop and demonstrate the technologies needed to reduce cost and expand the capability of future space exploration activities.' The ETDD program is initially planning on funding small-scale demonstrations in five technology areas: in-situ resource utilization (with a robotic lunar resource extraction mission in 2015), high-power electric propulsion, autonomous precision landing (building on the success of the Lunar Lander Challenge), human-robotic collaboration (2011/2012), and fission power systems. More info on NASA's larger-scale Flagship Technology Demonstrations (FTD) program is expected in the coming month."

Comments

Re:*yawn*

[shadowbearer]

  Yeah, having an actual space station, where humans live in space for long periods of time, and do things like construction (building the ISS), research wrt living conditions(learning about micrograv and it's effects on the human body) and much more, no, that doesn't teach us anything about space exploration, it's just a dick contest - against who, exactly? The ISS was planned before the Cold War,built after it was over, and now you are arguing against maintaining it because it's a dick waving contest against... who?

  Post something constructive, otherwise shut the fuck up and get out of the way, asshat anon. I just can't BELIEVE the parent was modded insightful. I guess inflammatory rhetoric trumps reality and logic on slashdot, at least with some moderators. I know I certainly don't waste my moderator points on ignorant drivel like the parent posted.

SB