NASA robotic vehicles and their developers braved sand storms and unprecedented temperature swings on sweeping dunes near Moses Lake, Washington to prepare for future lunar expeditions.
Exploration History
This Month in Exploration
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Overview
NASA Team Builds Composite Space Capsule with Future in Mind
That’s why the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) established a team of structures experts to gain experience in using composites and suggest an alternative approach for future spacecraft designers.
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Technicians at the ATK facility in Iuka, Miss., prepare the Composite Crew Module for autoclave curing.
One NASA team believes future space capsules may be made with advanced composite materials, the stuff race cars, sailboats, and high-end sports equipment are made of today. Composites look attractive because they are tough and lightweight, and can be formed into complex shapes that may be more structurally efficient.That’s why the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) established a team of structures experts to gain experience in using composites and suggest an alternative approach for future spacecraft designers.
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Featured Stories
NASA Tests Lunar Robots and Spacesuits
NASA-ESA Comparative Architecture Study
Findings from this study include a significant mutual interest in the potential development of lunar cargo landing systems, communication and navigation systems, lunar orbital infrastructures, and lun...
Lunar Robotic Manipulator Passes Early Test
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.
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.
More On Exploration
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 "NASA: The Future of Exploration")
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 "lunar surface exploration")
Related Links and Sites
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The Vision (Feb. 2004)
› Low resolution (1.9 Mb PDF)
› Hi resolution (5.3 Mb PDF)
› Support for the Vision
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White House Web Site
› Renewed Spirit of Discovery →
› Fact Sheet →
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President's Commission
› Visit archived Web site →
› Read Report (1.3 Mb PDF)
› President's Statement →
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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.
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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