NASA would be studying the possibility of sending exploitative robot dogs to the Moon

LEAP. (photo: NASA/ESA)

It has always been said that the dog is man’s best friend. Now it looks like it’s not just limited to real dogs. According to Spacethe POT could be preparing for send robotic dogs on their lunar missions. So the mission of Sagebrush will not leave humanity alone.

If any TechMarkup reader has or has cared for a dog, they must know some of their favorite hobbies, such as digging, jumping and exploring unknown places. NASA appears to be trying to replicate this same behavior with the robotic dogs of its Artemis program, serving as companions and tools for future astronauts.

LEAP is a robot dog concept and an acronym for Legged Exploration of the Aristarchus Plateau. The Aristarchus Plateau (translated into Spanish) is a rocky elevation on the surface of the Moon. The THIS he has studied this area and wants to study it for a long time.

NASA would take man’s best friend to the moon

ESA would use the European Large Logistics Lander (EL3) to send robotic dogs to the moon. This ship will be in charge of transferring cargo and experiments to the lunar surface, and its first mission is expected to take place at the end of this decade. Naturally, LEAP would take it to the Moon, where it would be tasked with exploring the area.

LEAP, on the other hand, takes the form of a four-legged creature While it doesn’t exactly look like a dog, it does give us an idea of ​​what it could bring to NASA and ESA missions in the future.

“With the rover, we can investigate key features to study the geological history and evolution of the Moon, such as ejecta around craters, recent impact sites, and collapsed lava tubes, where the material may not have been altered by space weathering and other processes”, mentions patrick bambachan engineer at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Germany.

On the other hand, LEAP’s design is inspired by another famous robot dog called ANYwrong, developed by ANYbotics. The latter has the ability to fall and rise, climb steep slopes, dig channels in the ground, and move stones with its feet to check what is below. They are the essential base a NASA/ESA robot needs to explore the Moon.

LEAP.  (photo: NASA/ESA)
LEAP. (photo: NASA/ESA)

Lunar explorations could be carried out by new generations

The Rovers they have been an important tool in the exploration of other regions of space. An example of this is curiosity, which explores and collects information about the surface of Mars. Now, the arrival of LEAP robot dogs takes these possibilities much further.

However, things are still quite difficult in the offices of the POT and the THIS. Of course, such a robot would already be tested in a simulated scenario to explore its capabilities and limitations with lunar gravity conditions and other characteristics.

curiosity. (photo: NASA)

Based on its dimensions, the team expects LEAP to weigh 50kg, with a fifth of that amount for the scientific load.

“Traditional rovers have enabled great discoveries on the Moon and Mars, but they have limitations. Exploring terrain with loose soil, large rocks, or slopes greater than 15 degrees is especially difficult with wheels. For example, the mission of the Mars rover, Spirit, ended when he got stuck in the sand, ”he explains. Bambach.

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