Driving on the moon

The Unmanned Lunar Expedition Simulator is a small 3D (OpenGL) game in which you control an unmanned moon vehicle. It is a two-player game that may be played either against the computer or against another player on the internet. There are two game modes: a racing game and a death-match game.

The game uses rigid-body-dynamics for control of vehicle movement. It has a particle system based gun, 3D audio, and an online high-score list.

The simulator is built around a pseudo-realistic modeling concept which allows an extremely flat learning curve for the aspiring remote astronauts. Currently the simulator allows for training vehicle handling under extreme conditions as well as mission training by means of a simulated scientific lunar expedition. All this is 'bullshit' of course, but it is still a nice little application worth a download.

»»» Download: Unmanned Lunar Expedition Simulator

The next generation

Source: NASA

Next Generation Rover For Lunar Exploration Driving New Tech Here On Earth

In the year 2020, NASA will be back on the moon. This time NASA will explore thousands of miles of the moon’s surface with individual missions lasting six months or longer. Just as we did during the Apollo program, NASA will be developing new concepts and technologies – concepts and technologies that will also benefit life on Earth.

»»» http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/home/LER.html

To the moon and back...

What an honour if your own invention shows great results...

... also the moon vehicle is very interesting, isn't it?


Source: NASA

»»» NASA's Mobility Field Test Phase 2 (video)

NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Lunar Architecture Team conducted studies of the possible scenarios that may be encountered on the moon. The desert-like landscape in Black Point Lava Flow, Arizona provided an ideal landscape for testing.



Source: NASA

Google on the moon?

Google is sponsoring a competition called the Lunar X Prize. The competition is open to privately funded groups. The groups are charged with a task that's easy to describe, but very hard to achieve. They must launch a vehicle that can journey to the moon, land safely on its surface and deploy a mobile robotic device. The winner could receive more than $20 million. Several teams have already joined the competition. The race is on!



Further information:

»»» http://science.howstuffworks.com/google-lunar-challenge.htm

»»» http://www.googlelunarxprize.org/