The US Department of Defense’s research branch, DARPA, has decided to explore the possibility of building a railway on the moon. This ambitious project will be undertaken in collaboration with defense contractor Northrop Grumman ((source)).
DARPA has instructed Northrop Grumman to investigate the concept of a lunar train system that could transport people, goods, and resources for future commercial projects. Scientists believe that such a lunar railway could establish the essential infrastructure for long-term human presence on the moon.
This initiative is part of DARPA’s 10-year program to develop a lunar architecture called LUNA-10, with Northrop Grumman being one of 14 companies involved in various aspects of the project.
Specialists at Northrop Grumman will focus on studying the necessary interfaces and resources for constructing the railway, assessing its cost and logistical risks, identifying potential prototypes, and developing designs. However, at this stage, the project will remain in the conceptual and planning phase.
The idea of creating a transport system on the moon is not entirely new, as NASA introduced the concept of the magnetic levitational system, Float (Flexible Levitation on a Track), three years ago. This system is designed to overcome the abrasive nature of the lunar regolithic, which poses a threat to equipment and personnel.
Nevertheless, the successful execution of space transport projects, including the lunar railway, depends on the ability to land astronauts on the moon. NASA’s Artemis missions, which aim to return humans to the lunar surface, have faced delays due to safety concerns, with timelines being pushed back to the mid-2020s.
Additionally, SpaceX’s ambitious project to use the Starship giant rocket for lunar missions has yet to achieve significant progress. Recent test launches have not been entirely successful, highlighting the challenges associated with space exploration and colonization (source link).