Science Fun

I thought this was an interesting feed that I received in from NASA News and that it was appropriate during this time that I am doing the series on Apollo.  NASA is now working with firms for development and experimentation in robotics to be used in missions to the moon. 

Back in the late 60s and early 70s when the Apollo missions were in progress, they used computer technology that is primitive to today’s standards.  Today’s barebones PC has more computing horsepower than the computers that took Apollo to the moon and back.  The flight computer onboard the Lunar Module only had 4 kilobytes of ram and a 74 kilobyte hard drive.  I will toss in this extra tidbit – the skin in places on the Lunar Module – no thicker than two sheets of aluminum foil. 

NASA is planning a major upgrade to the hardware used to transport men to the moon.  During Apollo, they stayed only for a few days, when we return around 2020, the stay will be for a longer period of time – weeks or months.  Some of the new technologies that are being developed are intelligent robotic trucks – specialized lunar rovers with pressurized cabins and movable habitats.  NASA says that if “we want to stay on the moon for extended periods of time, and then we must develop the equipment and technology to do so.” 

Robots did not exist during the days of Apollo, other than in science fiction novels.  In the new era of moon flight, robotics will be a key component.  The first robot that is in development and testing is ATHLETE (All Terrain Hex Limbed Extra Terrestrial Explorer).  This contraption resembles the body of a flatbed trailer with six independent moving wheel assemblies.  It is being designed to be able to transport heavy things, including the ability squat down, roll under the lander craft, raise it up, and roll it along to the next point.  It will have the navigation and ability to maneuver around boulders.  The astronauts will also be able to remove a wheel from ATHLETE and mount a drill or other tool so it can help with exploration or other maintenance tasks. 

ATHLETE will have onboard computers and programming that will enable it receive and respond to voice commands from the astronauts as well as to use software to run programs for exploration, research, and analysis.  The development of technologies and techniques for returning to the moon are underway.  NASA and its research and development are hard at work to pave the way for a bold new mission!  I will be keeping an eye on NASA for when they introduce more robotic inventions.  Source material from NASA.

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