Entirely self-governing - NASA proposes moon train service
The "Flexible Levitation on a Track" system, or FLOAT, is a project that aims to utilize hovering magnetic robots to transport up to 100 tons of material on the surface of the moon daily.
Prioritizing transportation for future lunar bases
The project is spearheaded by Dr. Ethan Schaler, a robotics engineer at NASA, who believes a robust and reliable transportation system is pivotal for the practicality of future lunar settlements in the 2030s.
► In a recent blog post, Dr. Schaler stated, "We're committed to creating the first lunar rail system that delivers dependable, independent, and efficient payload relocation on the moon."
Traversing lunar ground presents unique challenges, so the team has designed a transport network that doesn't involve permanent rails. Instead, these tracks can be simply rolled out on the lunar surface and moved when relocating bases.
Equipping the system with magnetic levitation robots
The transportation process relies on a line of "currentless magnetic robots" that hover above the track. These robots are then driven by the track's electromagnetic energy, taking them to their destination. The speed at which loads can be moved is estimated to be about 1.61 kilometers per hour.
Robots with wheels or legs could damage the moon's surface, so the magneticlevitation system avoids this problem.
Securing funding for future advancements
Out of six groundbreaking ideas, FLOAT was chosen to proceed to Phase 2 of NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts program. Other projects, including liquid telescopes and two-month-long Mars rockets, also receive Phase 2 funding. Each project will now get a $600,000 boost to enhance their technological development.
Dr. Schaler and his team aim to test a smaller scale track and robots with the newly acquired funding.
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Source: symclub.org
