Machines may be used in future mission to moon, Mars
November 13, 2008 – Mauna Kea, Hawaii
VIDEO by David Corrigan
NASA wrapped two weeks of tests on the volcanic soil of the Big Island of Hawaii’s Mauna Kea, and invited the media to take a look at the technological concepts that will assist future space missions.
The goal was to test systems that will one day assist astronauts in maintaining a sustainable and affordable lunar outpost, by drilling into alien soil and extracting water that could be used to create oxygen.
NASA’s lunar exploration plan currently projects that lunar resources could generate one to two tons of oxygen annually, or the same amount that four to six people living at a lunar outpost might breathe in a year.
The tests were held on Hawaii because Mauna Kea’s soil is so similar to the regolith that covers the moon’s surface. Three prototype systems were tested.
The tests were hosted by Pacific International Space Center, or PISCES, based at the University of Hawaii – Hilo.
In this video, William Larson, Chief of NASA’s Applied Sciences Division, explains the tests in greater detail.
| More on the Scarab rover
Get
the Flash Player to see this player. More from the day of tests on Mauna Kea. (November 13, 2008 – Mauna Kea, Hawaii) |
| Lockheed Martin tests
Get
the Flash Player to see this player. Turning lunar dust into water is the goal for future space travellers, and Lockheed Martin is working on figuring out how to make it happen. (November 13, 2008 – Mauna Kea, Hawaii) |
| Turning dust into water
Get
the Flash Player to see this player. Another mechanism designed to extract water from the surface of an alien world. (November 13, 2008 – Mauna Kea, Hawaii) |
| UH Hilo student finds opportunity
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the Flash Player to see this player. Thanks the relationship between PISCES, NASA and the University of Hawaii – Hilo, young students have the hands on opportunity to learn about cutting edge space technologies. (November 13, 2008 – Mauna Kea, Hawaii) |
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STORY SUMMARY
Machines may be used in future mission to moon, Mars November 13, 2008 – Mauna Kea, Hawaii VIDEO by David Corrigan NASA wrapped two weeks of tests on the volcanic soil of the Big Island of Hawaii’s Mauna Kea, and invited the media to take a look at the technological concepts that will assist future […]