NASA wants to build a train on the MOON for when humans eventually live there

If nan thought of building a train connected nan satellite sounds for illustration thing from nan pages of a sci-fi novel, you wouldn't beryllium alone.

But nan satellite train is really conscionable one of six 'science fiction-like concepts' to person caller backing from NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program.

Flexible Levitation connected a Track, aliases FLOAT,  plans to usage levitating magnetic robots to carrier up to 100 tonnes of materials connected nan lunar aboveground each day. 

According to nan squad down nan Scalextric-like project, this would supply a reliable and autonomous measurement of moving resources mined connected nan moon. 

Project leader Dr Ethan Schaler, a robotics technologist astatine NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, says: 'A durable, long-life robotic carrier strategy will beryllium captious to nan regular operations of a sustainable lunar guidelines successful nan 2030’s'. 

In a NASA blog post, Dr Schaler writes: 'We want to build nan first lunar railway system, which will supply reliable, autonomous, and businesslike payload carrier connected nan moon.'

Unlike a railway connected Earth, this lunar carrier web wouldn't usage nan fixed rails you mightiness beryllium acquainted with. 

Dr Schaler and his squad propose to create lengths of elastic way which tin beryllium 'unrolled' straight onto nan lunar surface. 

These are designed to trim down connected building clip since, if nan moonbase changes, these tracks could simply beryllium rolled up and moved elsewhere.  

The existent moving will beryllium done by a bid of 'unpowered magnetic robots' which levitate complete nan aboveground of nan track.

The way itself will past make electromagnetic thrust to propel nan robots to their destination. 

This is nan aforesaid rule down maglev trains connected Earth, which usage beardown electromagnetic fields to propel unpowered carriages on tracks.

Much for illustration a floating Scalextric track, it is nan rails that supply nan powerfulness alternatively than nan conveyance itself. 

Dr Schaler claims that each robot will beryllium capable to transportation loads of various shapes and sizes astatine speeds of around 1 mph (1.61 km/h).

Unlike robots pinch wheels aliases legs, these floating carts will debar wearing down nan tracks successful nan dusty lunar environment.  

While nan thought of satellite bases mightiness look far-fetched for now, nan reality of surviving connected nan satellite is becoming an progressively pressing concern.

As portion of nan Artemis missions, NASA will beryllium exploring and yet landing adjacent nan moon's southbound rod which is believed to clasp crystal wrong its craters.

Although NASA has pushed backmost nan day of its crewed lunar landing, nan abstraction agency still has ambitions to establish a quality beingness connected our lunar satellite. 

Jim Free, NASA's subordinate administrator for exploration systems development, precocious told reporters that nan abstraction agency would apt build much than 1 guidelines campy arsenic portion of nan Artemis landings. 

Ultimately, NASA and different rival abstraction agencies successful Russia and China whitethorn each attempt to found imperishable settlements connected nan moon.  

However, owed to nan harsh situation connected nan lunar surface, mining and transporting materials whitethorn not beryllium a occupation that's safe for quality astronauts.  

In nan NASA blog post, Dr Schaler explained that FLOAT will 'operate autonomously successful nan dusty, inhospitable lunar environment.'

The strategy could beryllium utilized to carrier regolith mined onsite aliases to ferry materials to and from landing sites aliases different outposts. 

FLOAT is conscionable 1 of six futuristic ideas that person been selected for shape 2 backing from NIAC, NASA's 'innovative precocious concepts' program. 

These projects scope from fluid telescopes to plasma-powered rockets that could return humans to Mars successful conscionable 2 months.

Each task now receives $600,000 to  (£487,764) successful caller backing to create their exertion further.

Dr Shcaler says that his squad will usage this backing to create a miniature group of tracks and robots for further testing. 

If immoderate projects are selected to beforehand to nan adjacent shape past they could moreover beryllium considered for a early NASA mission. 

John Nelson, NIAC programme executive, says: 'These diverse, subject fiction-like concepts correspond a awesome people of Phase II studies.

'Our NIAC fellows ne'er cease to amaze and inspire, and this people decidedly gives NASA a batch to deliberation astir successful position of what’s imaginable successful nan future.'