A NASA team traveled to the lunar-like landscape at Moses Lake, Wash., to figure out what it will take to live and work on the lunar surface.
Exploration History
This Month in Exploration
Visit every month to find out how aviation and space exploration have improved life for humans on Earth and in space.
Overview
NASA Tests Lunar Robots and Spacesuits on Earthen Moonscape
Teams from seven NASA centers and one university coordinated their activities on the Moses Lake Sand Dunes from June 2-13 to gain hands-on experience with specific technical challenges anticipated when humans return to the moon by 2020 and begin to explore the lunar surface and set up initial outposts.
> News Release
Photo Gallery
Testing at Moses Lake, Wash. Credit: Sean Smith/NASA
Conditions on the moon will be harsher, but prototype NASA robotic vehicles and their developers braved sand storms and unprecedented temperature swings on sweeping dunes near Moses Lake, Wash., this month to prepare for the future.Teams from seven NASA centers and one university coordinated their activities on the Moses Lake Sand Dunes from June 2-13 to gain hands-on experience with specific technical challenges anticipated when humans return to the moon by 2020 and begin to explore the lunar surface and set up initial outposts.
> News Release
Photo Gallery
Featured Stories
Lunar Robotic Manipulator Passes Early Test
NASA Eyes Lunar Landing Site
NASA has obtained the highest resolution terrain mapping to date of the moon's rugged south polar region, with a resolution to 20 meters per pixel.
NASA Takes Off-Roading Off Planet
In a car commercial, it would sound odd: active suspension, six-wheel drive with independent steering for each wheel, no doors, no windows, no seats and the only color it comes in is gold.
Kennedy's Desert RATS
Three teams from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida journey west each year to participate in the agency's Desert Research and Technology Studies.
3rd Space Exploration Conference
More On Exploration
 "Spacesuit prototype")
 "NASA: The Future of Exploration")
 "entering lunar orbit")
 "lunar surface exploration")
Related Links and Sites
-
The Vision (Feb. 2004)
› Low resolution (1.9 Mb PDF)
› Hi resolution (5.3 Mb PDF)
› Support for the Vision
-
White House Web Site
› Renewed Spirit of Discovery →
› Fact Sheet →
-
President's Commission
› Visit archived Web site →
› Read Report (1.3 Mb PDF)
› President's Statement →
-
Exploration Systems Mission Directorate
NASA's Mission Directorate responsible for developing the capabilities and supporting research and technology that will enable sustained and affordable human and robotic exploration.
-
Space Operations
NASA's Mission Directorate responsible for NASA space operations related to human exploration in and beyond low-Earth orbit.
› Space Shuttle
› International Space Station