Teams
from seven NASA centers tested prototype NASA robotic vehicles on the sand
dunes near Moses Lake, Wash., June 2-13 in preparation for future lunar
expeditions.
The
potential explorers included two small K10 rovers meant to survey lunar landing
sites and create 3-D terrain models. One scout rover used ground-penetrating
radar to scope out the subsurface, while the other used a 3-D scanning laser
system known as LIDAR to create topographic maps.
Engineers
from NASA’s Johnson Space Center tested the lunar truck, also known as the "crew
mobility chassis prototype," and also wore advanced spacesuit designs. The lunar
truck boasts six wheels that can move independently and allow it to
drive in any direction, while human drivers stand in turrets that can pivot 360
degrees. A K10 rover sits on the lunar truck in this image.
Two
ATHLETE cargo-moving rovers sit in the background, each having six legs capable
of rolling or walking over tough terrain. These rovers could carry and deposit
payloads to various sites on the moon, whether on robotic or human missions. The
NASA teams also tested cargo carriers, cranes and spacesuits in the diverse
soil and terrain of the Moses Lake dunes.
— NASA and SPACE.com Staff
Credit: NASA
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