Delaware Space Grant Consortium | Moon Rock Research
UD mechanical engineering students help NASA test a moon rover
As aspirations for lunar colonization grow, so does the need to understand the moon’s freshwater reservoirs. Researchers are interested in determining if these hidden natural resources could serve as a source of drinking water and as fuel, both of which are key cornerstones for any long-term lunar habitat.
To this end, NASA is investigating new areas of the moon for signs of freshwater. As part of this effort, the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER, aims to characterize the distribution and physical state of lunar waters and then to determine whether humans will be able to use lunar water resources found on the moon.
But before VIPER launches in late 2024, a number of tests must be conducted here on Earth to ensure that the golf cart-sized rover can withstand harsh lunar conditions. This is what a team of seniors in the University of Delaware’s College of Engineering worked on as part of a project that could aid in [human]kind’s next giant leap.
Author Credit: Jess Gardner
Image Credit: Photos courtesy of Team 116 and NASA
Original Post Date: May 21, 2024