NASAs New Future Moon Truck

NASAs New Future Moon Truck http://www.EmploymentCrossing.com NASA's new prototype for a future moon truck is performing perfectly in desert tests, according to NASA. The terrestrial version of the Small Pressurized Rover, which can go forward, reverse and side-to-side to tackle tough terrain, is completing a three-day drive across the Arizona desert today after a successful week of testing, NASA officials told Space.com. "It's just an incredibly capable machine," said NASAs Doug Craig. "It's going great and everyone's really pleased with it." Astronauts and geologists split into two-person teams to test the unpressurized and pressurized rover versions on the barren Black Point lava fields of Arizona. The vehicle will allow astronauts to take extended lunar road trips without the inconvenience of bulky spacesuits. The rover is part of NASA's bid to return astronauts to the moon by 2020. While some engineers are developing program's Orion spacecraft, Ares I and V rockets, and Altair landers, others are testing how best to move astronauts on the moon once they get there. Humans first drove vehicles on the moon in 1971, when Apollo XV astronauts Dave Scott and Jim Irwin drove the electric Lunar Roving Vehicle. Two other moon cars followed on NASA's last two Apollo flights, but those rovers were built for limited trips. "Those lunar rovers were disposable, so they were only going to be used for two or three days," Craig said. "These that we're looking now, we're looking at up to five years length on the moon."

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