NASA has announced that it is working on a new project to transport 100 tons of material every day on the Moon using robots and paramagnetic lifting technology. The Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program from NASA has selected six projects aimed at establishing a permanent human presence on the lunar surface, providing funding and further development for these projects.
One of the projects selected is FLOAT, led by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which aims to create a rail system with magnetic robots for transporting goods on the Moon. The system is expected to be operational within the next decade, offering reliable, automated, and efficient transportation solutions.
Ethan Schaler, a NASA robotics engineer leading the FLOAT project, estimates that the system can transport 100 tons of cargo per day. The magnetic robots will operate autonomously on a three-layer track, moving at a speed of around 1.6 km/h. These robots use diamagnetic lift technology to hover above the rails, reducing abrasion from lunar dust compared to traditional lunar robots with wheels or legs.
John Nelson, director of the NIAC program, expressed excitement about the diverse and sci-fi-like projects under phase II studies, providing NASA with plenty of ideas for future endeavors. These projects represent an exciting glimpse into what the future of lunar exploration and development might hold.
