NASA may send a backup, nuclear-powered Mars rover to the Moon
Summary
NASA is considering sending the full-scale engineering model of the Perseverance Mars rover, called Promise, to the Moon. This rover would use a nuclear power source to explore the lunar south pole, especially in areas where sunlight is limited and solar power is not effective.Key Facts
- Promise is a test version of the Perseverance Mars rover currently at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.
- It would be powered by a multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG), which uses nuclear material to produce energy.
- Unlike most lunar rovers that rely on solar power, this nuclear power helps the rover operate during the dark lunar night.
- The rover weighs about 1 ton and might be delivered using Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander or SpaceX’s Starship rocket.
- NASA has used Promise to test commands and solve problems before sending instructions to Perseverance on Mars.
- Engineers believe Promise can be modified for the Moon and could help explore hard-to-reach places at the lunar south pole.
- Using Promise on the Moon would reuse existing NASA hardware and accelerate lunar exploration plans.
- NASA officials are still deciding if this plan is practical and are studying how Promise could contribute to science and human missions on the Moon.
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