The US space agency has requested a “lunar freezer” that can be built by private companies for missions to the Moon.
NASA has posted a “lunar refrigerator” solicitation on the federal contracting website SAM.gov, where private contractors can view and submit their options. Space writes that this mobile freezer should be created by the end of 2027 so that it can be used during the landing of astronauts on the Moon as part of the Artemis 5 mission.
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According to the statement made by NASA, the main purpose of the “Moon refrigerator” is to store scientific and geological samples from the Moon and deliver them to Earth in future missions to the Moon within the scope of the Artemis program.
Important
The report stated that the freezer will store not only moon rock samples but also biological and physiological samples taken from astronauts. Most likely, this is necessary to study the effect of space flight and stay on the Moon on the human body. According to NASA’s request, this freezer must be created by the end of 2027 so that astronauts on the Artemis 5 mission can take it to the Moon.
The “lunar refrigerator” itself must withstand a long journey to the Earth’s satellite using various space transport vehicles. We are talking about the Orion spacecraft, on which astronauts will fly to the Moon, the Gateway lunar space station, which should be built in a few years, and the module that will land on the lunar surface. Additionally, these “refrigerators” will move across the surface of the Moon in new lunar rovers. Based on this, the freezer needs to withstand various physical impacts, especially during the launch and landing on the Moon.
In its statement, NASA said that the container in which scientific samples will be stored should be at least 25x25x66 cm in size and its weight should not exceed 55 kg. However, all samples in the freezer must be stored at minus 85 degrees Celsius for at least 30 days. At the same time, their integrity must be protected.
NASA’s request states that the freezer must be equipped with a display to monitor and control the sample storage container, and must also have wireless and wired Internet connections so scientists on Earth can control it as well.
Another important statement from NASA is that the “lunar refrigerator” should be able to record data such as its temperature, general condition, when and for how long it was turned on.
Important
If all goes as planned and NASA receives the finished freezer within the specified time frame, it will go to the Moon in 2029. This will be the third landing of astronauts on the Moon, following the Artemis 4 missions in 2028 and the most significant mission yet, Artemis 3, in 2025. NASA’s future plans to explore the Moon and plan more human flights to Earth’s moon depend on the success of the latter.
We remind you that NASA has signed contracts with private contractors to build a replacement for the International Space Station. But as I wrote before FocusThe implementation of this project does not go as expected.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.