Important Innovations Collection

NASA Funded Project Source:  Stock image of  Moon Telescopes to Look Deep Into the Universe A NASA funded lab at the University of Colorado is developing robots to deploy small, highly advanced telescopes on the far side of the Moon.  In the next ten years, the NASA team will send a rover aboard a lunar lander spacecraft and place it on the dark, far side of the Moon. Humans & Machines Working Together The plan is to set-up a network of small telescopes.  The deployment will be performed by the rover's robotic arm.  The arm will be controlled by astronauts in an orbiting lunar station called Gateway.  Gateway will serve as transit to and from the Moon and as a refueling station for deep space missions. New Telescopic Views of Deep Space On the far side of the Moon, the telescope will be free of light and noise.  That will enable a unique and pristine gaze into the deep reaches of space.  It's a leading edge example of projects un...

Lunar Orbiter, Lander & Astronaut Habitat Source:  NASA Lunar Orbiter Concept Man on the Moon in 2024 NASA's plan is for a mini-space station that would orbit the moon with astronauts onboard for 30 to 60 day stays as they travel back and forth to the surface of the Moon. The new space station will be a lunar orbiter, lander and astronaut habitat. It's called the Lunar Orbital Platform - Gateway that NASA wants to use to speed travel and exploration of the Moon.  The Trump Administration wants humans on the Moon again by 2024. Gateway on a Fast Track NASA wants the 1st phase of Gateway - the  Power & Propulsion phase - to launch in 2022.  NASA is expected to select an industry proposal on phase 1 next spring  The 2nd phase is the lunar habitat where the astronauts will live, work and do scientific experiments, on and near the Moon.  In 2024, it's expected that both components will be launched on a commercial rocket. International P...