NASA aims to put a man on the moon after 50 years. For that reason, in the last decade it has promoted various projects to make the journey and the landing process as optimal as possible, from new spacesuits to lunar vans that will serve as mobile laboratories. It’s all designed for the United States to take the lead in the space race.
For this reason, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration unveiled an ambitious project, the installation of which is already advanced. the first railway system on the moonor also known as the FLOAT project.
The United States Moon Train or Flexible Levitation on Advanced Transportation. Photo: Ethan Schaler
The first train on the moon
As we mentioned earlier, space exploration is about to enter a new era with the proposal the first moon trainan innovative project supported by NASA known as FLOAT (Flexible Levitation on Advanced Transport) which intends to start operations by 2032.
This initiative is trying to create a transport system based on magnetic levitationmuch like the high-speed trains that are under development on Earth, using materials from Earth and natural resources from the Moon.
In this sense, the lunar train aims to revolutionize mobility on the surface of a natural satellite, because even though it will not travel long distances on the lunar surface, will facilitate the transport of equipment, supplies and possibly people between bases and other key points which NASA for the eventual first base on the moon.
Is it true that the United States will build a train on the moon?
In a statement, NASA described the project as “a durable, long-life robotic transportation system that will be critical to the day-to-day operations of a sustainable lunar base in the 2030s.” It’s part of her ambitious Moon to Mars plan.
It is also known that National Aeronautics and Space Administration she included the lunar train project in hers Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) and recently advanced to Phase II development, suggesting it could be a reality within the next decade.
Moose NO They include projects developed, financed or in collaboration with NASA which seeks to promote innovative technologies. Only a few studies are selected because they must have the potential to change the future of space exploration. At the moment, only six NASA NIAC projects are active.
NASA and ICON are working to create roads on the moon. Photo: NASA
How does the moon train work?
NASA’s Lunar Train uses state-of-the-art technology to withstand the gravity of the Moon and the challenges of being in space. Below we explain how it works:
- Magnetic levitation: The system relies on motorless magnetic robots to keep the train moving on the tracks. These create a magnetic field that generates a repulsive force, allowing the train to levitate a few centimeters off the surface and avoid direct contact with the ground.
- Magnetic drive– In addition to levitation, a magnetic propulsion system is used to push the train along the track.
- Adaptation to lunar gravity: Since the gravity on the moon is about one-sixth that of Earth, the train can move more efficiently using less energy.
- Solar energy: A thin layer of solar panel supplies power to the base when exposed to sunlight.
This system is particularly well-suited to the Moon, where the rough terrain and low gravity make traditional wheeled vehicles less effective.
