NASA has unveiled details of new plans for its moon base, including high speed pressurised vehicles that can be driven without bulky spacesuits. “They’re basically habitats on wheels. If you can picture this thing, it’s kind of a combination between a spacesuit and a sports car,” according to Mike Gernhardt, NASA’s lead for extravehicular physiology systems and performance projects (Space.com). NASA is also considering shipping one mega-module base to the moon, instead of alternative plans’ suggestions for a modular system that could be assembled in situ (NY Times).

Back to the buggies … which will have exterior mounted spacesuits drivers can enter via hatchways. Capable of handling two-week moon excursions of up to 600 miles with astronauts protected from radiation by a layer of water (NY Times) they will also have seats that can fold down into beds according to Gernhard (Space.com again). Current estimates of cost are “more than a Ferrari”, a quote Space.com attributes to Gernhard and the Times to Geoff Yoder, an official working on the lunar plans.

Florida Today call this the “RV-like approach”. It says this is important as astronauts in spacesuits take “a physical beating” with cuts and blisters after just a few hours in suits. Maybe NASA should fund more flexible spacesuits?

Image: NASA