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NASA Wants to Simulate Lunar Gravity on Suborbital New Shepard Flights

posted by martyb on Saturday March 13 2021, @12:38AM   Printer-friendly

takyon writes:

NASA, Blue Origin Partner to Bring Lunar Gravity Conditions Closer to Earth

At one-sixth that of Earth, the unique gravity of the lunar surface is one of the many variable conditions that technologies bound for the Moon will need to perform well in. NASA will soon have more options for testing those innovations in lunar gravity thanks to a collaboration with Blue Origin to bring new testing capabilities to the company's New Shepard reusable suborbital rocket system.

Currently, NASA can approximate the Moon's gravity on parabolic flights and in centrifuges on suborbital vehicles – both invaluable options for maturing promising innovations. But these methods provide only seconds of lunar gravity exposure at a time or limit the payload size, compelling NASA to explore longer-duration and larger size options. Blue Origin's new lunar gravity testing capability – projected to be available in late 2022 – is answering that need.

New Shepard's upgrades will allow the vehicle to use its reaction control system to impart a rotation on the capsule. As a result, the entire capsule essentially acts as a large centrifuge to create artificial gravity environments for the payloads inside. Blue Origin's first flight of this capability will target 11 rotations per minute to provide more than two minutes of continuous lunar gravity, exposing the technologies to this challenging but difficult-to-test condition.

Also at Space News and SYFY Wire.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 2) by takyon on Sunday March 14 2021, @01:29AM (1 child)

    by takyon (881) <{takyon} {at} {soylentnews.org}> on Sunday March 14 2021, @01:29AM (#1123825) Journal

    ILV isn't just being considered it is receiving the bulk of the funding, nearly 2/3 IIRC.

    It's initial design and development funding, and the larger amount doesn't necessarily mean they will win the main contract. SpaceX has a habit of asking for less and getting what they asked.

    The breakdown is National Team $579m (60%), Dynetics $253m (26%), SpaceX $135m (14%). Up to two will be selected and given far larger contracts.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_program#Human_Landing_System [wikipedia.org]

    During the 12-month design development program, companies will develop and refine their designs until April 2021 when NASA is to select up to two landing systems. The selected vehicle design are expected to start a development period in 2021 that, if fully funded and supported over the next several years, could culminate in crewed demonstration missions to the lunar surface beginning with the Artemis III mission in 2024.

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  • (Score: 2) by Immerman on Sunday March 14 2021, @04:48AM

    by Immerman (3985) on Sunday March 14 2021, @04:48AM (#1123892)

    I know which two I would pick.

    Hint - they use the same fuel and very effectively address opposite ends of the payload spectrum...