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Lunar Exploration Tools and Tasks

Moon Tasks Contest Logo

NASA’s Solar System Missions Directorate is looking for a few good college students to submit designs for tools and instrument packages that might get used on future human-operated lunar rovers. So, they’re holding a Moontasks design contest.

The designs need to take into account all the factors lunar explorers will face: navigating in darkness (at least part of the time), collecting dust and rock samples, establishing an outpost (and communicating their work to Earth), doing survey work, and survival issues. Designs and tools that can help astronauts deal with the pervasive effects of moon dust will be needed.

The contest is open to full-time students enrolled in accredited post-secondary institutions: universities, colleges, trade schools, community colleges and professional schools in the United States or its territories. Individuals or teams may apply, and interdisciplinary teams from across departments and institutions are encouraged.

NASA plans to invite contest winners to the next set of lunar technology mission tests planned for the summer or fall of 2009. Paid internships also are planned as student awards. The contest continues NASA’s tradition of investing in the nation’s education programs and ties into the agency’s goal of strengthening NASA and America’s future workforce.

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the Way the Astronauts Train

So, I always wanted to go to space. It’s true. Ever since I was a kid, I thought it would be cool to live and work in space. Of course, I expected to be doing it about the time I hit college, some years ago. But, life hasn’t dished that experience out to me. Yet. I continue to hope that before I get too old to go to space, somebody will figure out a way to send science writer types like me with a zest for space out for a ride… so I can see the curvature of Earth and gaze into infinity without the hindrance of the atmosphere.

Aboard a Zero-G Weightless Flight with BoingBoingTV's Xeni Jardin and friends

Until I get to have that experience, it looks like the first step is to take a trip on a “Vomit Comet” like the folks at BoingBoingTV did a while back in an episode called “Floating in Zero Gravity is fun, Earthlings!” BBTV’s Xeni Jardin (who signs herself as Tech Culture Journalist and Curator of Internet Esoterica, Anomalies, and Curiosities) went with a group of friends on a Zero-G weightless flight to find out what it’s like to experience what the astronauts do.

Check out their video called Floating in Zero Gravity. It shows a bunch of people having a great time in weightlessness, and comes complete with flying teachers, a blogger, a corporate chairman, a flying robot and a film crew. There are also references to barfing, a lot of smiles and laughter, body surfing, somersaults, and the appearance of a mysterious pink flying pig! Looks like my kinda crowd. Check it out!

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The Spacewriter's Ramblings

NASA Needs Student Designers

Lunar Exploration Tools and Tasks

Floating in Zero Gravity

the Way the Astronauts Train

Exploring Science and the Cosmos