The Moon is not the kind of place where you want to get lost, but it can get a little tricky trying to retrace your footsteps without a gps system in place. Thankfully, space engineers may have found a way around this limitation, by designing a portable backpack that can generate a real-time, 3D map of the Moon's terrain. NASA and its private industry partners are working together to help explorers find their way around the less explored south polar regions of the Moon. KNaCK uses a laser to measure distances to nearby objects and surface features. On the Moon, the system could give astronauts a high-resolution map of their surroundings. The technology is capable of providing a wide range of measurement points, including the speed and distance to disturbed dust particles. That is impressive. The sensor is a surveying tool that can create high-resolution 3D maps at centimeter-level precision and give them a rich scientific context.
The Artemis program will allow NASA to return humans to the Moon no earlier than 25 years from now. The astronauts will be landing near the south pole. Evidence suggests that the area may contain water ice that can be used for lunar exploration.
The shadows on the south pole of the Moon make it difficult for future astronauts to estimate distances to their lunar pit stops. KNaCK will make it easier to measure the amount of oxygen needed for extra-vehicular excursions as time spent on the Moon is precious.
Humans tend to orient ourselves based on landmarks, such as a building or a grove of trees. explorers will be able to determine their movement, direction, and orientation to distant peaks or their base of operations with the help of KNaCK. They can mark specific sites where they found some unique mineral or rock formation.
In November of 2021, KNaCK underwent testing at an ancient volcanic crater in Potrillo, New Mexico, and is scheduled for another test in April at the SSERVI in Kilbourne Hole, New Mexico. The team behind the navigation system is working to reduce the weight of the backpack, which currently stands at about 40 pounds, and to shield the electronics against the harsh solar radiation and microgravity experienced on the Moon.
NASA chose a really sweet spot to land its upcoming lunar rover.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
