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tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 17,057

Australia Unmanned Probes

https://www.yahoo.com/news/australia-pl … 14102.html

Wed, October 13, 2021 4:58 AM
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia has agreed to build a 20-kilogram (44-pound) semi-autonomous lunar rover for NASA to take to the moon as early as 2026 in search of oxygen.

The rover would collect soil that contains oxides and NASA would use separate equipment to extract oxygen from that soil, a government statement said. Oxygen extracted from the lunar surface would ultimately be used to sustain a human presence on the moon and support future missions to Mars.

Australian Space Agency deputy head Anthony Murfett said NASA had been impressed by technology used to remotely control from 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) huge dump trucks that transport iron ore from mines in northwest Australia.

For SpaceNut .... this initiative looks promising for your regolith harvesting inquiry.

(th)

louis

Member

From: UK

Registered: 2008-03-24

Posts: 7,208

Re: Australia Unmanned Probes

Robot mining and transport on Earth are well advanced as I've pointed out before now.  This has big implications for Mars in as much as you could probably locate your base much further away from a water source than might otherwise be the case. As long as you have a continuous supply chain, it won't matter if it's 100 or a 1000 miles away.  Robot rovers could be linked together by Wifi control following a lead navigator. One "train" might carry hundreds of tons of water ice or minerals.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/australia-pl … 14102.html

Wed, October 13, 2021 4:58 AM
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia has agreed to build a 20-kilogram (44-pound) semi-autonomous lunar rover for NASA to take to the moon as early as 2026 in search of oxygen.

The rover would collect soil that contains oxides and NASA would use separate equipment to extract oxygen from that soil, a government statement said. Oxygen extracted from the lunar surface would ultimately be used to sustain a human presence on the moon and support future missions to Mars.

Australian Space Agency deputy head Anthony Murfett said NASA had been impressed by technology used to remotely control from 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) huge dump trucks that transport iron ore from mines in northwest Australia.

For SpaceNut .... this initiative looks promising for your regolith harvesting inquiry.

(th)

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