DARPA Picks Northrop Grumman for an Advanced Lunar Railway Concept

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A Moon colony has long been envisioned as our next big step in space exploration. From giving us potential answers on the origins of life to serving as a stepping stone to Mars, it will have far-reaching implications for humankind in general. However, building a Moon colony is anything but easy. Future Lunarians will need sustainable energy sources, life support systems, sturdy habitats, and food production to function. 

Oh, and they will also need safe and efficient transportation. Soon, we’ll get to see a Lunar Railway Concept by Northrop Grumman, after DARPA picked the company to develop one. The 10-year Lunar Architecture (LunA-10) Capability Study will focus on several aspects of building a functional railway. Northrop Grumman will need to define the interfaces and resources to build it in the first place and establish a critical list of foreseeable cost, technological, and logistical risks. Furthermore, the company will identify prototypes and demonstrate a fully functional Lunar railway concept. Finally, the company will look for ways to incorporate robotics in building the railway.

“The envisioned lunar railroad network could transport humans, supplies, and resources for commercial ventures across the lunar surface, contributing to a space economy for the United States and international partners,” said Northrop Grumman in its press release.

But why not just use good old Lunar buggies? They have already proven their mettle on the Moon’s surface, right? Well, Lunar buggies have limited payload capacity, can’t reach high velocities, and are relatively inefficient. Dust can pose a problem for their moving parts, too. That’s where a Lunar railway would come in handy. With its far higher payload capacity and efficiency, a Lunar railway can have far-reaching implications on the economy of a Moon colony. Railways have fewer exposed moving parts, too. On a celestial body with no moisture that’s crucial, as Lunar regolith tends to stick to any surface due to the high static electricity.

“This investment in key developmental research keeps our technology at the forefront of next-generation solutions,” said Chris Adams, vice president and general manager, of strategic space systems, at Northrop Grumman. “With our proven experience in the integration of complex systems and commercialized autonomous services, we will continue to create lasting change for a sustainable space ecosystem.

Ashton Henning