NASA’s NIAC program has recently launched a new project called FLOAT, which involves robots that use “paramagnetic lifting” technology to hover on the Moon’s rails. The system will transport 100 tons of material daily, efficiently and reliably supporting lunar base development.
The FLOAT project is led by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and aims to establish a permanent human presence on the lunar surface. The rail system created by FLOAT will move regolith, the soil layer on the Moon’s surface, to extract materials that can be used by astronauts or lunar bases.
The robots operate without a power supply, hovering above the rails on a 3-layer track at a speed of 1.6 km/h thanks to “diamagnetic lift” technology. This minimizes abrasion from lunar dust and allows for efficient transportation in the harsh lunar environment.
John Nelson, director of the NIAC program, expressed excitement about the diverse and innovative projects in phase II studies. He believes they provide valuable insights into future possibilities for space exploration. The FLOAT project represents a cutting-edge solution to transportation challenges on the Moon, with potential to revolutionize how materials are moved in space environments.