NASA’s Rasor (Rejolith Advanced Surfaces System Operations Robot) recently tested on the simulated lunar soil of the Granular Mechanics of the Kennedy Space Center and the Rejolith Operations Lab’s simulated lunar soil, which has been designed to dig and carry the resolith like the moon, which is preparing technology for continuous lunar systems. On 27 May, NASA Mechanical Engineer Ben Birds churned Rasore’s counterrotating bucket drum through clay simulant and carved a three -foot bound. This test focuses on the excavation drum of Rasore and directly informs the development of NASA’s next generation moon-khai excavation, in-Seetu resource usage pilot excavation (IPEX)
Rassor’s counterotting drum and resolith excavation
According to NASA official websiteEach of the Rasore has a bucket drum that rotates in the opposite direction of its partner. Engineers noted that this protesting rotation also gives additional traction in weak gravity. In the Kennedy Lab Test, those counterotroatting drums anchored the robot into a simulant and effectively dig the soil – there is evidence that the Rasore can catch and move Rejolith firmly. moonWith that traction, the Rasore can dig, load, carry and dump loose soil.
The collected resolith can then be processed in hydrogen, oxygen and water, important resources to maintain astronauts on the moon. In short, the test showed Rasore effectively digging Lunar soil Simulant while its drum design demonstrated how future machines can work in the lower gravity of the moon.
Moon with IPEX excavation
NASA Engineers say this racer test was mainly to check the slated bucket-dram design for the in-Seetu resource use pilot excavation (IPEX). Rassor serves as a prototype for iPex, which will be far more autonomous and capable.
The iPex is engineered as a joint bulldozer and dump-truck robot that can mine and transport large versions of lunar soil. Eventually, the iPex will dig the resolith and feed it in on-site processing units to extract oxygen, water and fuel from the moon’s soil. Using these local resources is a foundation stone of NASA’s strategy that is to support a constant human appearance on the moon and ultimately Mars.