Moonbase Hermit Crab



(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

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
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
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.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
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.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Click here to access all of this post's 14 comments




Email This Post to a Friend
"Moonbase Hermit Crab"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More