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NASA Lunar Chariot Tested by NYT Earthling (Verdict: Best Rims in Outer Space)
Posted by Haroon Malik at 9:00 AM on March 31, 2008
NASA's Lunar Chariot, which costs a reported US$2 million to build, has just been tested by the NYT. The top speed of 24 kph may not set tarmac on fire, but it sure as hell can burn a truckload of astro stuff, all with it's six-wheeled wackiness trailing closely behind. The front driving "turret" houses the primary control; a joystick for steering, as well as various cameras and sensors, the feedback of which is relayed to the onboard screen. John Schwartz, the NYT reporter sent out to run the test, didn't get to drive the buggy itself, but he was offered the passenger's seat / stand, and here's what he made of it.
• It navigated seemingly challenging terrain with relative ease, even if the ride was not so smooth for the passenger.
• The motion of the vehicle was a little disconcerting, as it didn't move in a conventional manner; climbing, sliding and dropping in an apparent erratic manner.
• The six wheels could be controlled independently to navigate really, really challenging space spots.
• The suspension is souped up to the galactic brim; the chassis can be raised a whopping, 28-inches in height.
• It's freaking mahoosive, weighing in at 4,500 pounds it is far too large to make it to the moon in its current state.
• The Lunar Chariot is using commercial parts—a cheap webcam and Earth-car grade tires that would never make the final draft, and neither would they survive out in the big old vacuum.
So, the Chariot is a long way off being the cruiser of choice for space travellers. Nevertheless, the test proves it is bad-ass; we're thinking we could use one right here on Earth. Now, to raise that US$2 million purchase fee, as well as a ten-man design crew. Hmm, it's back to our crapmobile, me thinks. [NYT]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Technogen
Posted 9:48 AM 31/3/08
I hate to say it guys but 2 mil for something like this really isn't that expensive.
@Daftrok, because there maybe H3 up there that we cause use to make fusion and completely ignore all the power problems we have right now.
People who go "Why do we need to do this." have no vision of the future or understanding that things have to be researched and built on to get somewhere. We're not going to get greater life support systems with out building them. We're not going to get more efficient space drive systems with out building them.
Those that want to say space travel is a waist of money; go outside and draw a circle on the ground at arms length away. Now fit 2 other people in that and live like that the rest of your life. That's what containing ourselves to earth is like.
Technogen
GiltProto
Posted 9:33 AM 31/3/08
The main problems with rubber-like wheels on the moon would be brittleness in cold shade and melting in direct sun, although you could make them out of some exotic silicone compound to minimize those problems. The tires on the space shuttle are exposed to vacuum while in orbit so that's not a big worry. But like the original moon buggy you'd probably use something like metal mesh wheels. You don't need the supporting ability of rubber wheels on the moon since there's less gravity for the same payload. And because of the lower gravity the whole shebang can weigh less.
M-O-O-N moon.
GiltProto
daftrok
Posted 9:32 AM 31/3/08
Another waste of money. Why do we need to analyze the moon this extensively, especially when we already have moon rocks, and have made a geographical map of the entire fucking planet?
daftrok
Substance_D
Posted 9:21 AM 31/3/08
Why is this soo expensive? Couldn't they drive around in like...A heavy car? I mean, obviously not, but idk why. And it takes 2 million for a glorified moon buggy?
Substance_D
thechansen
Posted 9:17 AM 31/3/08
I don't think its the vacuum as much as the razor sharp moon dust that they have to worry about.
thechansen
Technogen
Posted 10:00 AM 31/3/08
I just thought I'd throw this in as well.
2007 yearly earnings for Exxon-mobile were $40.6 billion [seattletimes.nwsource.com]
Nasa's 2007 Budget was $16.2 billion [en.wikipedia.org]
Technogen
Kaiser-Machead
Posted 10:00 AM 31/3/08
@daftrok: If we both live to see the advanced space vehicles capable of taking us to far away worlds in short spans of time, I hope we're both still on Gizmodo so I can rub it all in your face.
Kaiser-Machead
pdok
Posted 9:59 AM 31/3/08
$2mil plus delivery charge..
pdok
strider_mt2k
Posted 9:54 AM 31/3/08
I like it.
Gimme two.
It's grill firing time, my fellow Gizmodians, and I can't help but feel good about it. :D
All the best!
strider_mt2k
matto
Posted 9:53 AM 31/3/08
It needs those off-road lights with the smiley-face covers.
matto
emergeoriginal
Posted 10:42 AM 31/3/08
@matto: totally. with a little flag whipping around.
emergeoriginal
GiltProto
Posted 10:28 AM 31/3/08
And what were the Exxon-mobile expenditures? It's not free to pull oil out of the ground and most of the profits after expenditures and taxes to shareholders.
That buggy also needs dangling truck nuts.
GiltProto
matto
Posted 10:49 AM 31/3/08
We totally need to be the first country to burn donuts on the moon. Yee haw!
matto
Technogen
Posted 11:32 AM 31/3/08
It was on that link I listed, Total net income after all spending last year for Exxon-Mobile was 40.6b.
Technogen
bmoctta
Posted 12:40 PM 31/3/08
Why they hell can't the just walk?
bmoctta
daftrok
Posted 12:28 PM 31/3/08
It wouldn't be a waste if it wasn't 2 million. Send the schematics to India they'll make the same thing for 500k.
daftrok
FredicvsMaximvs
Posted 12:18 PM 31/3/08
I want one! Going from 20 minutes to 3 hours for my morning commute would definitely be worth it.
FredicvsMaximvs
halfshafter
Posted 12:56 PM 31/3/08
Those tires are sure to kick up space rabies.
halfshafter
bobdobbs
Posted 12:52 PM 31/3/08
@daftrok: I'm with you on this one. I'd love to have a job, financed by the American taxpayers, where I get to play with rockets and moon cars all day long.
Keep sucking on the US taxpayer-teat, you NASA dickwads.
bobdobbs
infmom
Posted 2:29 PM 31/3/08
Oh gosh, reminds me of an old Don Martin cartoon in MAD magazine years ago. Two astronauts are toodling around the moon in their space buggy, get out to pick up some rocks, and come back to find the buggy up on blocks with the wheels gone.
infmom
Mithel
Posted 3:25 PM 31/3/08
Ridin' spinnaz, ridin' spinaz...
Mithel
nosauten
Posted 3:57 PM 31/3/08
@daftrok: Heck, they can build it for $500 in India. All you need is to ducktape 3 bicycles together and attach a motorbike engine. What's so hard about that. But oh no, Nasa has got to have it gold plated in 21Karat Gold with diamonds. I mean look at that picture. The rims on that thing alone probably cost $1M.
nosauten
nosauten
Posted 3:55 PM 31/3/08
@bmoctta:
Because we're fat americans! We don't walk anymore.
nosauten
DeadWriter
Posted 4:34 PM 31/3/08
Does everything have to be covered in gold ?
DeadWriter
nosauten
Posted 6:08 PM 31/3/08
@DeadWriter: No. Diamond and platinum are alternatives, but since NASA is cutting down on costs, they just decided to use Gold.
nosauten
LoganSix
Posted 11:06 PM 31/3/08
Why don't they just fix the old buggy that was left on the moon from the first set of trips? I bet it still works fine. Back then, they made stuff to last.
LoganSix
trippysmurf
Posted 1:17 AM 1/4/08
What, no comparison to Segways yet?
trippysmurf
SigmundTheSeaMonster
Posted 1:38 AM 1/4/08
Space Truckin!
SigmundTheSeaMonster
dasnake
Posted 1:27 AM 1/4/08
the future for people who like space travel and pimping out their moon ride! (go futurama!)
dasnake
Jswatz
Posted 9:20 PM 31/3/08
It's not gold. It's anodized aluminum and gold-colored chrome-moly. The original lunar landers had small amounts of gold leaf over the base metal to reflect the sun and protect the lander (and the people inside) from getting cooked.
Jswatz
Uber_lompocus
Posted 2:23 PM 31/3/08
@bobdobbs: shush, you bufoon.
Uber_lompocus
Uber_lompocus
Posted 2:23 PM 31/3/08
@daftrok: Yes, and it would then be made of 1/4 the thickness of teh original intended materials, have 2 tires removed, have extremely simplified electronics, and be called the "deathtrap".
HEY...you can be the first indian moon rover's test driver!
Uber_lompocus
Veracity_Inexcusable
Posted 9:15 AM 31/3/08
test
Veracity_Inexcusable
Jswatz
Posted 4:02 AM 1/4/08
Low-RIde-Er knows every street, yeah...
Jswatz
fluf
Posted 3:30 AM 1/4/08
Bun Hur in space!
fluf