Moonbase Hermit Crab

By Emperor in Everything Else, Science & Tech on Apr 9, 2008 at 10:15 pm

(YouTube link)Striding through the moon dust with the moonbase strapped to its back, this unlikely idea reminds me of the mobile cathedrals in Absolution Gap, others suggest Howl’s Moving Castle.

“In a 2005 report about its exploration plans, NASA said it wanted to set up a base at a fixed location on the Moon after initially returning humans there in 2020.

But a gargantuan robotic vehicle called ATHLETE (All-Terrain Hex-Legged Extra-Terrestrial Explorer) could change that. Measuring about 7.5 metres wide, with legs more than 6 metres long, the robot could act essentially like a turtle, carrying the astronauts’ living quarters around on its back.

…

ATHLETE would normally drive around the lunar surface, since that is much more energy-efficient than walking. But whenever the robot encountered very bumpy ground, or its wheels got mired in deep soil, it could switch to walking.

“If we get into ankle-deep dust, we’ll lock the wheels, use them as feet, and just tiptoe out, effectively,” Wilcox told New Scientist. “

Walking? Yes indeed – check out this video at YouTube.

Link – via The Daily Grail

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blogoprofundo
Apr 9th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
There are few things cooler than space travel.
the robot child
Apr 9th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
You know, as our technology advances it mimics the animal kingdom more and more.

I see Power Ranger Zoids in the future soon.
Thomas
Apr 9th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
If we could get our Hermit Crab walker to the moon via the Big Whale, I’d bust a nerd nut.

I understand if no one gets the reference.
Stella
Apr 9th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
All very nice to mount a base on a vehicle. You have to consider the benefits of a mobile base versus the resources needed to get the base to the moon in the first place. It cost enormous amounts of $$$ for every singe kilogram that is landed on the moon.

Stella
Thespian24601
Apr 10th, 2008 at 12:57 am
I want one! If the mission somehow fails, and they decide to donate this to the public, throw my name in the mix.
Systemdown
Apr 10th, 2008 at 1:53 am
eh it’s not bad. I think instead of sending all that creep into deep space NASA should just focus on the moon then Mars. You’ve got to learn to crawl before you can walk. Just think that once we landed on the moon and just paid attention to setting up a base there how much further we would be down the line of space travel. That’s just my opinion.
Systemdown
Apr 10th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Crap not creep sorry. It was late.
empty-minded
Apr 10th, 2008 at 6:41 am
We as a space traveling society are entering the ‘dark ages’ in which we are losing the knowledge acquired by those before us. For decades NASA set the standard by which others judged the efficacy of their space program. Now NASA is headed toward being obsolete and unemployed.

Steven Hawkings has said that if we are to survive as a species, we need to move into space. I would have to defer to him.
oezicomix
Apr 10th, 2008 at 7:24 am
is it just me or does the woman in the next video up (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2Fkw2r1QwQ&feature=user) sound like she is impersonating christopher walken?
fsmarch
Apr 10th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Looks like a walking outhouse!
Christophe
Apr 10th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
fsmarch beat me to it !
CheeseDuck
Apr 10th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Transformers!
oezicomix
Apr 10th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
to me it looks like its from a wallace and grommit animation
Paul
Apr 10th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
saw this on the history channel. It can even amputate a broken leg and keep working.

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