NASA is appealing to the public to find innovative solutions to help Artemis astronauts navigate on and around the Moon's south pole.
Project Artemis aims to return humans to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo missions more than 50 years ago. Astronauts will land near the moon's south pole, an area where permanently shadowed regions could contain ice - a key resource for future space missions, including those to Mars.
Officially launched on September 4, the Lunar Navigation Challenge is soliciting ideas for a simple, back-up navigation device that astronauts can use to find their way around the moon, moving between the lander and various points of interest. Another part of the challenge is to find solutions for mapping and exploring Shackleton Crater, a 21km-wide, 4.2km-deep formation in permanent shadow.
The first Artemis missions will face unique challenges, including orientation in low light and long shadows caused by the low position of the sun. This makes it difficult to use visual orientation during extravehicular activities.
Individuals or teams are encouraged to participate, and proposed solutions must account for the extreme lunar surface conditions, be accurate and easy to use by astronauts wearing pressurized gloves. The devices must not rely on complicated power sources, electronics or software.
The challenge is divided into two sections, each evaluated separately. The first aims to develop a low-tech guidance device, with a prize of $15,000, and the second, mapping Shackleton Crater, offers $30,000. In total, the prizes exceed $50,000.
