A railroad network on the moon connecting various lunar bases could be implemented over the next decade after a US government agency approved the development concept. This is reported by The Independent, according to UNN.
Details
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has signed a contract with Northrop Grumman to develop a concept for a railroad network on the lunar surface. This agreement was signed as part of the Lunar Architecture Exploration Program for the coming years (LunA-10).
The goal of the plan is to support the future "lunar economy" that will be formed as global space agencies decide on a presence on the Moon.
The publication writes that China and the United States already have programs to establish lunar bases by the end of the decade. NASA's Artemis mission will be the first to "return" people to the moon.
This will contribute to the development of the space economy for the United States and international partners
It is noted that the use of rail transport on the Moon is promising. This will automate logistics processes, reduce risks for people when moving between lunar bases and transporting goods.
Northrop Grumman will now work to create a prototype of a fully operational lunar rail system.
The company will explore various ways to build, operate, and repair a train network on the Moon, which will likely include the development of robots capable of performing key tasks.