Space exploration is a harmful enterprise, particularly when squishy dwelling organisms, comparable to people, are concerned. NASA has all the time prided itself on how critically it takes the security of its astronauts, in order it gears up for the subsequent massive push in crewed area exploration, the Artemis program, it’s on the lookout for options to probably catastrophic conditions which may come up. One such disaster can be if one of many Artemis astronauts was incapacitated and couldn’t return to the lander. The solely one that might probably be capable of save them can be their fellow astronaut, however carrying a completely suited human again to their base of operations can be a problem for an astronaut equally kitted out in their very own cumbersome go well with. So, NASA determined to handle it as exactly that – a problem – and ask for enter from most people, providing as much as $20,000 for one of the best answer to the issue.
The problem, “South Pole Safety: Designing the NASA Lunar Rescue System,” was introduced on November 14th and accepts entries till January twenty third, 2025. It awards $45,000 to a minimum of three winners, together with $20,000 to the first-place winner. So, what does the problem really contain?
The work product is a design doc for a system able to transferring absolutely suited astronauts a minimum of two kilometers up a 20-degree slope with out being connected to a rover. Oh, and it has to have the ability to function within the harsh situations of the lunar south pole.
Typically, a completely suited human carrying the brand new Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Suit, the brand new spacesuit explicitly designed for the Artemis missions, will weigh round 343 kg (755 lbs). However, lunar gravity is just about 1/sixth that of Earth’s, so it would really feel extra like they weigh 57 kg (125 lbs). That’s nonetheless so much to hold however way more manageable.
However, it’s in all probability infeasible for the opposite astronaut to fireman carry their unconscious comrade over that distance, particularly since they’re carrying their very own spacesuit. So it’s as much as expertise to do the job. To achieve this, it must evade the pitfalls (in some circumstances actually) of the lunar south pole.
One hazard is the acute temperatures—they will vary from 54 C in full daylight to -203 C at evening. Any supplies used within the (particularly electronics) would, subsequently, want to have the ability to face up to such wild temperature swings.
Other hazards embody razor-sharp lunar regolith, which is predicted to trigger havoc on most transferring mechanical programs on the Moon. Navigating round craters and large boulders whereas hopefully dodging micrometeoroid impacts provides to the advanced nature of the rescue surroundings.
A panel of consultants, together with some NASA engineers, will decide this competitors. Their scorecards will embody classes like the general mass of the answer, its ease of use, and the way a lot it impacts the go well with design, if any—fortunately, treating the fallen astronaut whereas on the transfer again to security is outdoors the scope of this problem.
Suppose you’re curious about collaborating, probably incomes you or your workforce tens of 1000’s of {dollars}. In that case, NASA is accepting submissions by means of the HeroX portal (generally used for public challenges) by means of January twenty fifth. Maybe sometime you’ll get to see your creation on the floor of the Moon—even when it would hopefully by no means be used.
Learn More:
NASA – South Pole Safety: Designing the NASA Lunar Rescue System
HeroX – South Pole Safety
UT – Lunar Astronauts Will Need Easy Walking Trails Around the Moon’s South Pole
UT – NASA, SpaceX Illustrate Key Moments of Artemis Lunar Lander Mission
Lead Image:
Logo of the South Pole Safety Challenge
Credit – NASA / HeroX
