Moonwalking in the Arizona desert?
No, it’s not a remake of Michael Jackson’s signature move; it is a training exercise for NASA astronauts that will be part of the future Artemis mission program to the lunar surface.
The weeklong expedition across the San Francisco volcanic field near Flagstaff, Arizona, will bring in NASA astronauts Kate Rubins And Andre Douglas the ability to perform moonwalk scenarios in replica spacesuits in a landscape similar to the moon.
During the training, the team will rehearse lunar operations from start to finish and will be supported by NASA engineers and field experts on the ground and virtually with a team of flight controllers and scientists at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Related: NASA astronaut walks on the ‘moon’ to prepare for Artemis landings (Photos)
“Field testing plays a critical role in testing all the systems, hardware and technology we need to conduct successful lunar operations on Artemis missions,” said Barbara Janoiko, director of field testing at Johnson. in an edition. “Our engineering and science teams have worked seamlessly together to ensure we are prepared every step of the way for when astronauts set foot on the moon again.”
During the week there will be four simulated moonwalks and six advanced technology runs that will follow the same protocol for operations on Artemis 3 and beyond.
The technology used in the demonstrations could also be incorporated into future Artemis program missions, including an augmented reality (AR) display and navigation data stream or light beacons that could help the crew find their way back to the lander.
“During Artemis 3, the astronauts will be our science operators on the lunar surface, with an entire science team supporting them from here on Earth,” said Cherie Achilles, science officer for the test at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. in the same edition. “This simulation gives us the opportunity to practice conducting remote geology in real time.”
One of the goals of this training will be to identify any gaps or challenges that might arise during operations at the lunar south pole in how data is collected and how the team communicates with the science and flight control teams in Houston.
After each simulated moonwalk is completed, all teams come together to discuss how it went and what we can learn from that specific exercise. Everything we learn from this field test will be incorporated into planning for future Artemis missions, including technology and commercial supplier development.
This is field test number five being conducted by NASA Johnson’s Joint Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Test Team. Previous training, as far back as the Apollo program, took place in the Arizona desert because it is a place similar to the moon’s terrain, with volcanic features, craters and fault lines to navigate.