July 9, 2008: Constellation Program
 

You've probably heard NASA is winding down the shuttle program, and leaving it to the Russians to support the International Space Station.
You've probably also heard, their new mandate is to go back to the moon by 2020. This has been named the Constellation Program.

At the Johnson Space Center's Lunar Yard, they are already testing several equipment designs, so they must have started on the design phase, years ago.
I would guess it was back when gas was under $2 a gallon, because they planning on taking SUVs to the Moon. :eek:
http://cellar.org/2008/luna1.jpg

http://cellar.org/2008/luna3.jpg

http://cellar.org/2008/luna4.jpg

If there is no gravity on the moon, how would these vehicles stay on the ground? :confused:

There is gravity on any mass, just the greater the mass, greater the gravity. right?

there is gravity on the moon - but just 1/6th of the gravity we have to deal with on earth.

Same amount of inertia though..

That first car is sooOOOooOO lame.. I don't get it.

It would be a lot more reliable and cheaper if they just rode mountain bikes.

For that last picture, in my mind's eye, I can just see the astronaut leaping up to the door....

Why don't they just send a Segway and be done with it?

I like the bottom ones. They look like mobile outhouses: they come to you when you gotta go.
Actually, all the designs in the world can't hide the fact that manned space exploration is just not a good idea.
The Apollo moon flights were exciting, but the current crop of magnificent Landers, Rovers, and Orbiters (at least 5 planets!!) are the way to learn about things other-worldly.

There is zero ground clearance on the second one, how can it possibly go over any sort of planet surface?

Clod it looks like there's a pivot for a hydralic lift on the second one. The Segway is an apt comparison though. All these look like a triumph of advertising over common sense.

Surely they wouldn't fill those tires with air for the final design that goes to the moon? Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

since nasa already chopped and dropped their whips, they need to add thumpin systems to go with the hydraulics. "then i let the alpine play..."

Nice!

Great. Now they're gonna start NASCAR on the moon!