Die NASA erläutert ihren Plan zum Bau einer Mondbasis am Südpol des Mondes
https://www.wired.com/story/nasa-details-its-plan-to-build-a-lunar-base-at-the-moons-south-pole/
Die NASA erläutert ihren Plan zum Bau einer Mondbasis am Südpol des Mondes
https://www.wired.com/story/nasa-details-its-plan-to-build-a-lunar-base-at-the-moons-south-pole/
4 Kommentare
The project’s first mission could arrive as soon as this year, with a little help from Blue Origin.
>According to a recent press conference, phase one will be particularly active: at least 25 missions and 21 surface landings. Without detailing specific dates, the agency said that over the next three years it will send rovers, including manned models for future mobility, drones, surface reactors, new-generation satellites, and payloads to prepare the ground. […] Phase two, starting in 2029, marks the beginning of semipermanent infrastructure assembly and first occupancy operations. NASA plans to install advanced energy systems, including surface reactors, initial habitat elements, and more robust communication networks. Up to 60 tons of cargo will be delivered in 24 missions during this period. […] Phase three is for scale-up. The infrastructure in place will be strengthened and expanded to form durable centers with constant turnover of personnel. NASA envisions a lunar south pole with habitable modules, reliable power systems, logistics networks for cargo and crew transportation, and the shipment of about 38 tons of cargo annually for maintenance and expansion.
It’s nice to see more detail and a plan that *could* work. Whether or not Trump is able to successfully finance this and commit is another question due to the Iran War. But, this is at least a practical roadmap which we have not had since the 1970s. This is Issacman’s plan, since Trump is not competent enough to come up with this.
Finally get to test out all the uses for graphene:
[https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9963118/](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9963118/)
I have no idea why this paper on graphene and space vehicles is up at the National Library of Medicine but this US organisation is highly regarded and I thank them for making it available.
Here is an excerpt:
>It is noteworthy to report that a vehicle made with graphene-polymer composites has been assembled by Orbex, the UK-based private, low cost orbital launch services company. The two-stage rocket Orbex Prime, unveiled in May 2022, has been designed to carry up to 150 kg of payload into a Sun-synchronous orbit. The main structures and the fuel tanks of Orbex Prime are built using polymer/carbon fibre/graphene composites. The design of the Orbex Prime body is shown in [Figure 3](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9963118/#nanomaterials-13-00680-f003).
Edit: I just found out that Orbex went out of business in February 2026:
[https://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/orbex-collapse-not-a-huge-surprise-due-to-lack-of-launch-demand-space-industry-experts-say](https://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/orbex-collapse-not-a-huge-surprise-due-to-lack-of-launch-demand-space-industry-experts-say)
The interesting thing in this article is the UK Government’s refusal to answer why the funds that the ESA had made available for Orbex were not distributed. If it is a case that the company were allowing costs to spiral then the UK Government should say so. To say they cannot comment on why they did not distribute the tens of millions awarded in grants to Orbex by the ESA is unacceptable.
Do we need a new thread each time a different news site releases the same announcement?