[ad_1]
This composite image of the moon using Clementine's 1994 data is the view we are most likely to see when the moon is full. Credit: NASA
NASA has announced a call for technological payloads for lunar instruments and surface technologies, which will fly to the moon as soon as next year or in 2020, commercial lunar landers. The agency is working with US industry and international partners to develop human exploration of the Moon in Mars. It all starts with robotic missions on the lunar surface, as well as a catwalk for astronauts in space orbiting the moon.
NASA is preparing to buy commercial lunar payload delivery services for small payloads and develop lunar landers for large payloads to conduct more moon surface research before the return of the moon. ;man. The agency is seeking investigations that build capacity for science, exploration or commercial development of the moon. This call is specifically for small payloads that can be ready for the first commercial flights. The next lunar payload calls will occur at regular intervals for subsequent missions, with the next call being released in about a year.
"We are looking for ways not only to conduct lunar scientific activities, but also to use the Moon as a scientific platform to examine the Earth, the Sun or the vast universe," said Steve Clarke, Assistant Deputy Director of Exploration at the Science Mission Directorate at NASA headquarters in Washington. "In terms of technology, we are interested in these instruments or systems that will help future missions, both human and robotic, to explore the Moon and fuel future Mars missions."
During the first missions, the scientific instruments will probably gather data on the heat flux inside the Moon, the solar wind and the atmosphere, as well as on the detection of dust. The Lander payloads could also perform technological demonstrations, using the Moon as a technological test bench for Mars.
"The strategy is that these early missions will help us prepare for more complex future missions, such as finding usable resources, building a seismic network to understand the inner structure of the moon and the moon. study of lunar mineralogy and chemistry to understand the origins of the moon, "Clarke said. "NASA is also looking forward to supporting the efforts of the US industry to provide more commercial exploration services to several customers, including NASA."
The agency is requesting that payloads be ready for delivery and integration with the moon landing gear by December 2021. In most cases, payloads will be delivered onsite and will remain under the control of the lorries. lead investigator until their selection for a specific flight.
The call for payloads is part of the Research Opportunities in Earth and Space Science (ROSES) funding program and solicits proposals for surveys of scientific instruments and technologies conducted by principal investigators. The initial deadline for the proposal is November 19, 2018.
The United States has no longer landed on the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. The Moon has scientific value and the potential to generate resources, such as water and oxygen, relatively close to Earth to help support the exploration of deep space.
Explore further:
Scared scientists while NASA cuts only the lunar robot
More information:
For more information on the call for proposals, please consult:
nspires.nasaprs.com/external/s… DC523698E} & path = open
For more information on NASA's exploration program, please visit:
www.nasa.gov/topics/moon-to-mars
Source link
