A major step toward the goal of establishing a long-term human settlement on the moon has been taken with the awarding of a ground-breaking contract by DARPA to Northrop Grumman to build a lunar railway idea. Included in the 10-year Lunar Architecture (LunA-10) Capability Study, the project aims to set up necessary infrastructure for upcoming lunar missions and dwellings.
Though it may sound unrealistic, the concept of a train on the moon is grounded in reality. With a surface area comparable to that of Africa, the Moon necessitates a dependable transportation network to link different colonies and activities. Conventional or maglev railways solve a significant logistical issue and provide a solution to the problem of lunar dust.
Lunar dust is abrasive and corrosive, clinging to spacesuits and equipment due to the absence of water and creating maintenance issues. By minimizing human contact with the lunar surface through train travel, the impact of dust on equipment and astronauts can be significantly reduced.
Moreover, the use of trains over moon buggies, which can damage the lunar surface, helps maintain the Moon’s pristine environment. Unlike Earth, where tracks are eroded over time, lunar tracks remain untouched for billions of years, making the preservation of the lunar landscape a crucial consideration.
The contract awarded to Northrop Grumman includes developing interfaces and resources for a lunar rail network, identifying cost, technological, and logistical risks, designing prototypes, and planning the construction and maintenance of the railway. Northrop Grumman’s expertise in integrating complex systems and autonomous services positions them well to lead this pioneering effort.
“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, we will continue to create lasting change for a sustainable space ecosystem.”
The development of a lunar railway represents a significant step toward establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon and paves the way for future exploration and colonization efforts beyond Earth.