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This Company Wants To Send Robots Into Lunar Caves
Astrobotic’s model rover explores a mine on Earth to train for lunar lava tubes (Video screenshot)
Ever since (and most likely long before) the first tantalizing glimpses of a lunar lava tube and skylight were captured by Japan’s Kaguya spacecraft in 2009, scientists have been dreaming of ways to explore inside these geological treasures. Not only would they provide valuable information on the movement of ancient lunar lava flows, but they could also be great places for future human explorers to set up camp and be well-protected from dangerous solar and cosmic radiation.
But before human eyes will ever peer into the darkness of a lava tube on the Moon, robotic rovers will roll along their silent floors — at least, they will if Google Lunar XPRIZE competitor Astrobotic has anything to say about it.
Last month, engineer and Astrobotic CEO Dr. Red Whitttaker talked to NASA about why they want to explore a Moon cave and the history and progress of their project. Check it out below:
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Read the rest of This Company Wants To Send Robots Into Lunar Caves (159 words)
© Jason Major for Universe Today, 2013. |
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Post tags: Astrobotic, Google Lunar XPRIZE, lava, lunar, Moon, Red Whittaker, robot, Rover, skylight, Technology
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Source: http://www.universetoday.com/104705/this-company-wants-to-send-robots-into-lunar-caves/
