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AN INCREDIBLE rail network could soon be established on the moon that would help humanity flourish on its surface.
The proposed rail system, supported by the US Department of Defence, would be able to transport both humans and supplies.
The SunThe US Department of Defence is supporting the development of a ‘lunar railroad’ concept proposed by Northrop Grumman[/caption]
GettyThe proposed train will transport humans and supplies across the lunar surface[/caption]
Designed by aerospace giant Northrop Grumman, the “lunar railroad” is hoped to allow for serious and sustained economic development on the moon.
Representatives of the company said: “The envisioned lunar railroad network could transport humans, supplies and resources for commercial ventures across the lunar surface – contributing to a space economy for the United States and international partners.”
Northrop Grumman was one of 14 companies selected by the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in December to participate in its Luna-10 study, which aims to quickly create new technology ideas that will help humanity extend its economic footprint into deep space.
The company said it will contribute to the study by determining what resources are required to build a lunar rail network, establishing a list of costs and risks, and identifying prototypes and analyses of an operational lunar rail system.
It will also, in Northrop Grumman’s words, “explore concepts for constructing and operating the system with robotics, including grading and foundation preparation, track placement and alignment, joining and finishing, inspection, maintenance and repair”.
Northrop Grumman has not provided funding details, although DARPA gave a ballpark number in August last year, stating that selected studies “will receive an Other Transaction award not to exceed $1,000,000 (£788,000)”.
Among the other companies selected by DARPA to participate in its Luna-10 study are Elon Musk‘s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos‘ Blue Origin.
DARPA has not yet revealed what their contributions will be.
The US agency said in December that the study “aims to catalyse the setup of a future civil lunar framework for peaceful US and international use”.
It added: “LunA-10 seeks to study the rapid development of technology concepts for a series of shareable, scaleable systems that can operate jointly, creating monetisable services for future lunar users.”
Dr Michael Nayak, the program manager in DARPA’s Strategic Technology Office, said the study has the potential to “upend how the civil space community thinks about spurring widespread commercial activity on and around the moon” in the next 10 years.
He said the study’s chosen companies range in size, and some are domestic while others are international.
Each company is expected to bring “a clear vision and a technically rigorous plan” for advancing DARPA quickly towards its goal of creating self-sustaining, commercially owned-and-operated lunar infrastructure.
The companies will reveal more details of their work to the lunar community next month, at the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium.
They will provide a final report in June, according to DARPA.
It comes after the US made its claim on the lunar south pole last month when it successfully landed its aircraft dubbed Odysseus.
The major development brought the White House one step closer to securing a permanent base on the moon.
For a long time, Nasa Administrator Bill Nelson has considered China its most capable opponent in getting boots on the moon by the end of the decade – although it is perhaps a trickier task to build long-lasting infrastructure where humans can survive off-planet.
The US and China believe the moon’s mysterious south pole is the most viable location for a permanent lunar base.
Following one fiery failure and a botched landing, the US’ third lunar robot in 2024 is now close to rolling out to the launch pad.
Nasa’s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover – known as VIPER – is set to embark on its journey to the moon later this year.
VIPER Project Manager Dan Andrews said this month: “All of VIPER’s flight instruments are installed, and the rover is more than 80% built!”
“This is a major accomplishment and shows the great progress being made by the dedicated VIPER team, who are excited to see the rover coming together.”
VIPER will land near the lunar south pole with the mission to search for water-based ice and other resources to help support future astronauts on the Artemis III mission, targeted to launch in 2026.
India became the first country to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon’s south pole in August last year.
The SunThe US and China are racing to reach the lunar south pole[/caption]
Nasa’s Artemis lunar mission – key facts
Nasa’s Artemis lunar mission – key facts
Nasa has pledged to land man on the Moon in 2024
The mission, dubbed Artemis, will mark the first time astronauts have set foot on the lunar surface since 1972
A giant Nasa rocket dubbed the Space Launch System will carry astronauts beyond Earth’s atmosphere
Once at the Moon, two astronauts will descend to the surface from an orbiting craft called the Lunar Gateway
Nasa has pledged that one of the landing crewa will be female, marking the first time a woman has set foot on the Moon
The pair would land on the lunar south pole, where vast reserves of frozen water could be tapped for future explorers
The landing system that brought the astronauts to the surface will then blast back to the orbiting Gateway satellite
They will board an Orion capsule for the 250,000-mile trip back to Earth
Nasa has a mountain of technical challenges to overcome before Artemis gets the green light
It’s still not clear if everything will be ready in time for the ambitious 2024 launch date
Nasa boss Jim Bridenstine has said the Moon will serve as a critical training ground for Mars expeditions, perhaps in the 2030s
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