Rocket science
A Nasa Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV) manoeuvres in the northern Arizona desert, yesterday on the last day of Nasa’s two-week field testing of new aerospace technology at Black Point Lava Flow north of Flagstaff, Arizona. The programme, called Desert...
A Nasa Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV) manoeuvres in the northern Arizona desert, yesterday on the last day of Nasa’s two-week field testing of new aerospace technology at Black Point Lava Flow north of Flagstaff, Arizona.
The programme, called Desert Research and Technology Studies (Desert RATS), is an annual opportunity for Nasa engineers and scientists to stress test rovers and other cutting-edge space technologies in an arid environment simulating the conditions found on the surface of the Moon, distant asteroids or Mars.
The SEV, Nasa’s newest rover prototype, is about the size of a pickup truck and has a pressurised module in which two astronauts can live for up to 14 days. A pair of rovers could travel more than 240 kilometres from their home base.
Alternatively, the wheels could be removed and replaced with a jet system, allowing the rovers to fly in space.