(You can listen to the story here, courtesy Third Rock Radio)
Is there such a thing as moon stamps? What type of special mail truck would you need to carry mail to the moon? Think all of this is impossible, the stuff of science fiction?
Well, there’s a first for everything. The company that’s making this a reality isn’t FedEx, DHL or UPS. Nor is it the U.S. postal service. Instead, it’s Google Lunar XPRIZE MILESTONE winner, Astrobotic.
Turns out, Astrobotic is thinking a lot about lunar logistics. One is how to deliver mail 238,900 miles away, as cheaply as humanly possible. Their mail truck is a spacecraft, called the Griffin lander. Not only can it transport the mail, it has enough room on board to take 4 robotic rovers, scientific instruments and even drop off a satellite in the moon’s orbit. Specifically, it measures 5.2 feet high and 10 feet wide. It can carry more than half a ton of cargo to lunar orbit and almost 600 pounds to the moon’s surface. And talk about precise landings, Astrobotic expects it to touch down on the moon within 330 feet of a predetermined landing spot, using autonomous navigation system cameras, lasers and inertial sensors to avoid obstacles and adjust its descent.
Image courtesy Astrobotic.com
To find out more about how Mouser Electronics is Empowering Innovation, visit https://www.mouser.com/empowering-innovation/. Mailing address – the Moon.
David Fambrough is a technical writer for Mouser Electronics. He’s adamant that Lost in Space, Star Trek and James Bond have had a strong role in inspiring innovation and new design.