Railway systems have long been a catalyst for development, and now, they may hold the key to lunar exploration. This seems to be the hope of the United States through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
The project supports the development of a lunar railway concept proposed by aerospace giant Northrop Grumman. The lunar railway network is envisioned to transport humans, supplies, and resources across the lunar surface to support commercial endeavors.
According to representatives from Northrop Grumman, this development is also expected to contribute to the space economy for the United States and international partners.
Northrop Grumman is one of the 14 companies selected by DARPA in December to participate in the 10-Year Lunar Architecture Capability Study (LunA-10), aimed at helping humanity expand its economic footprint into space.
"A significant paradigm shift will occur in the next 10 years for the lunar economy," said Michael Nayak, program manager at DARPA's Office of Strategic Technology, as quoted by Space on Tuesday (March 26, 2024).
"To reach the tipping point sooner, LunA-10 uniquely aims to identify solutions that enable multi-mission lunar systems, envisioning a wireless power generator that also provides communication and navigation," he continued.
Such work, he added, would accelerate key technologies that can be used by both the government and commercial space industries, ultimately driving economic activities on the moon.
Northrop Grumman outlined a brief overview of the lunar railway investigation. Firstly, they will determine the interfaces and resources needed to build the lunar railway network.
Next, they will establish a list of significant cost, technology, and logistics risks that can be anticipated. The project will also identify prototypes, demonstrations, and analyze the design concepts and full-scale operating architectures of lunar railway systems.
Lastly, they will explore concepts for building and operating the system with robotics, including leveling and preparing foundations, laying and aligning tracks, connections, inspections, maintenance, and repairs.
The DARPA-led initiative underscores a commitment to innovative solutions that could revolutionize space exploration and pave the way for sustained human presence beyond Earth's orbit.