Venturi Astrolab creates a rover to send to the Moon on a future space mission. So are some of its qualities.
In the midst of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, space programs were carried out that have not been produced again due to the incredible cost involved. Among all those programs, it is worth highlighting above all the incredible mission aboard Apollo 11. For the first time in history, the human being reached the Moon and took his first walk on the surface of the satellite. That historic episode occurred on July 16, 1969.
Much time has passed since then and, despite the availability of much more advanced technology than at that time, a mission of this magnitude has not been carried out. After all, the costs are exorbitant. Despite this, new proposals to repeat that feat. In fact, there are several countries that are weaving very diverse plans to achieve it. The emergence of private capital, without a doubt, bears much of the blame.
Around the space programs, companies of different sizes have begun to play a leading role with the aim of contributing their own grain of sand. A good example of this is shown by Venturi Astrolab, a startup that has been carrying out various projects consisting of the production of transport elements. As you well know, the conditions of the lunar terrain are different from those that would exist, for example, in any urban environment on planet Earth.
For this reason, it is necessary to take into account multiple properties present in the environment of the satellite. This company, aware of these conditions, has carried out studies to create a potential vehicle capable of providing capabilities displacement to future astronauts who are involved in the missions. It is, therefore, a very interesting bet to understand to what extent we are facing an environment with a view to re-conquer the lunar terrain.
Let’s see, therefore, what the program created by this startup consists of, why it is a technology capable of revolutionizing space transport and, of course, up to what level solutions of this class can be copied to improve the dynamic qualities of future rovers. Here are some of its main keys.
A rover adapted to overcome the obstacles present in the lunar territory
The first thing to note is its name, FLEX. We are facing a modular vehicle, that is, flexible. In this way, it is possible to enjoy several of its elements with the ability to change shape depending on the needs present at all times. In this way, a whole series of elements can be loaded without difficulty that require to be analyzed through a trunk present inside.
As can be read in the specialized portal TheVerge, this rover has autonomous technology, so it can return to a certain base at any time by means of an order. Similarly, it can be handled manually by the operator, which will involve the use of a series of commands present in a kind of dashboard. It is, therefore, a vehicle that is not too far from what a conventional off-road vehicle could be. Saving the distances, yes.
The first tests have taken place in the California desertnear Death Valley. It should be noted that this location is about 5 hours from the company’s headquarters in Hawthorne, which shows to what extent we are facing an optimal place to carry out the appropriate tests. The company speculates that its final weight could be around 500 kilograms. Even so, it is too early to guarantee this registration, since it will depend on many other factors.
Venturi Astrolab is already testing some of the basic FLEX equipment
FLEX is in a development phase, so it is still early to guarantee if it is a technology with the capacity to develop all kinds of tasks that a project of these characteristics would imply. Even so, it is necessary to specify that far-reaching tests must be carried out ahead. Among them, the presence of temperatures below 130 degrees Celsius below zeroa key element to know what the performance of the rover will be.
This company, which collaborates closely with NASA, has a great challenge ahead of it. For this, it is expected that get enough resources by the public treasury, as well as the incorporation of financial aid through financing campaigns. This second step is very difficult to achieve, since obtaining returns on the investment is not easy to achieve, so the investor usually does not carry out important actions in this regard.
We will have to wait a while, therefore, to know what are the real advances of the FLEX project. There will be competition from other manufacturers like SpaceX. However, this particular project has great potential ahead of it. And you, do you think that rovers are a great bet for the future when it comes to returning to the Moon?
Related topics: Technology
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