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New Lunar Rover
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:53 pm
by Tsukiyumi
Source
NASA's Cool Again
by Mike Krumboltz
January 12, 2009 11:57:14 AM
When was the last time anything from NASA made you say, "Whoa, that's cool"? Sometime during the Kennedy administration? Your justifiable cynicism may be about to disappear. A new and very impressive-looking moon buggy prototype has been unveiled by America's space agency.
The buggy looks nothing like the tin foil-like moon rovers from years past. This thing is straight out of a Spielberg flick, with an impressive glass cockpit, iPod-like color scheme, and room for four passengers. Additionally, according to this video from the Houston Chronicle, the rover can also serve as a mobile living quarters. No need for astronauts to return to their base every night - they can do the space equivalent of car camp instead.
So what about the specs? MSNBC hosts an informative article. Apparently, the rover's top speed will be anywhere from 6-15 miles per hour. Not exactly the General Lee, but what it lacks in speed, it makes up for in maneuverability. During a test run in the Arizona desert, the buggy "outpaced Hummers, Jeeps, and rugged trucks." It can even "dip and rise like a low rider."
But don't get too excited just yet. It's still only a prototype. And even if development goes perfectly, this vehicle won't see the moon's surface until 2020. That's a long way away, but those who can't wait should tune in next Tuesday. The lunar rover will make its public debut during Barack Obama's inaugural parade, where it will show off its moves for the new president.
Looks awesome.
Re: New Lunar Rover
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:02 am
by USSEnterprise
Yeah I saw a TV show about that, you can get inside of the space suit through hatches in the back of the cabin which takes about 10-15 minutes. Inside is pressurized so the astronauts can survive without space suits on. There was a previous platform before that one which just had the driver standing up and was able to swivel in any direction.
Re: New Lunar Rover
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:08 am
by Captain Picard's Hair
But does it have satellite TV, internet, and a chilled drink cooler? What about heated and cooled reclining leather seats? Hell, if I go to a dealer to buy a 200 million (or whatever it is) dollar car, the damn thing better have a bowling alley!
Re: New Lunar Rover
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:11 am
by Lazar
I hope it's got that automated parallel parking thing.
Re: New Lunar Rover
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:27 am
by USSEnterprise
Though one may wonder why we need to spend so much money for a lunar rover. We haven't been to the moon for like what? 30 years.
Re: New Lunar Rover
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:30 am
by Aaron
USSEnterprise wrote:Though one may wonder why we need to spend so much money for a lunar rover. We haven't been to the moon for like what? 30 years.
Dude, haven't you heard? It's a stepping stone to Mars!
Seriously, the new Aries program is supposed to take us back to the moon, if Obama doesn't can it. So that means by the time I hit my forties we might get there again. Though I'll bet money that we never actually do.
Re: New Lunar Rover
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:34 am
by Captain Picard's Hair
USSEnterprise wrote:Though one may wonder why we need to spend so much money for a lunar rover. We haven't been to the moon for like what? 30 years.
How else are the geeks at NASA supposed to pick up dates?
<$whatever million Lunar Rover pulls up at 15 MPH next to Porsche.> "Hey dorkwads, this Rover costs fifty times what that Pinto of yours costs. Who's the loser now!"
erm... perhaps they should have just done the usual thing and built a robotic girlfriend.
Re: New Lunar Rover
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:34 am
by USSEnterprise
Whats the point though, we don't have the means to make some sort of lunar base, why bother with it right now?
Re: New Lunar Rover
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:36 am
by Captain Picard's Hair
USSEnterprise wrote:Whats the point though, we don't have the means to make some sort of lunar base, why bother with it right now?
Which is why my theory makes as much sense as Kendall's point.
Re: New Lunar Rover
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:37 am
by Tsukiyumi
We're supposedly preparing to go back to the moon, and also supposedly build a base. I guess some components will be ready ahead of schedule.
Re: New Lunar Rover
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:38 am
by USSEnterprise
Because soon those will be the epitome of cool and every household will have one. 8)
Tsukiyumi wrote:We're supposedly preparing to go back to the moon, and also supposedly build a base. I guess some components will be ready ahead of schedule.
The only use I can see for a lunar base is for asteroid detection...These isn't much to explore is there?
Re: New Lunar Rover
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:41 am
by Captain Picard's Hair
Tsukiyumi wrote:We're supposedly preparing to go back to the moon, and also supposedly build a base. I guess some components will be ready ahead of schedule.
OK, <reluctantly pulls of clown hat>, it is in some sense an admirable goal but it's hard to be working on this now when you need the money to pull out of the worst economic crisis in decades.
Re: New Lunar Rover
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:41 am
by Aaron
USSEnterprise wrote:Because soon those will be the epitome of cool and every household will have one. 8)
Tsukiyumi wrote:We're supposedly preparing to go back to the moon, and also supposedly build a base. I guess some components will be ready ahead of schedule.
The only use I can see for a lunar base is for asteroid detection...These isn't much to explore is there?
I hear there's all kinds of helium that can be extracted for fuel.
Re: New Lunar Rover
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:43 am
by USSEnterprise
Cpl Kendall wrote:USSEnterprise wrote:Because soon those will be the epitome of cool and every household will have one. 8)
Tsukiyumi wrote:We're supposedly preparing to go back to the moon, and also supposedly build a base. I guess some components will be ready ahead of schedule.
The only use I can see for a lunar base is for asteroid detection...These isn't much to explore is there?
I hear there's all kinds of helium that can be extracted for fuel.
We aren't really using Earth bound alternate fuels, what makes you think we'll use an extraterrestrial source?
Re: New Lunar Rover
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:44 am
by Captain Picard's Hair
You usually hear of a Lunar base as a stepping-off point for moves deeper into space. If we were to follow the advice of the Carl Sagans and others who say we need to spread to other worlds to reduce the risk of extinction on earth, it's a first step.