14 DAY TRIAL // The goal of establishing a permanent presence on the Moon has been with the world's space agencies ever since before the first manned spaceflight. NASA, ESA, JAXA, RosCosmos, as well as the Indian and Chinese agencies, all have plans of at least getting there. However, while the Americans are working on their own set of robots to be deployed to the Moon, so do researchers at the Malardalen University in Sweden, one of the best places in the world to work in, if you are a robotics expert.
The scientists here hope to be able to send a lunar mission to the skies by as early as 2012, one that would contain a robot capable of constructing a small cottage on the surface of Earth's natural satellite. The plan may seem very ambitious at first glance, but leading robotics inventor MU professor Lars Asplund says that both the students and the faculty at the Swedish think-tank are educated to “aim for the stars” at all times.
“We want to teach students who think creatively, work together, use the very latest technology, and dare to set their sights high. The most important thing is not always to reach the goal. If you aim for the stars, at least you'll reach the treetops or even the moon,” Asplund shares. The scientists at MU are collaborating with famed multi-artist Mikael Genber for this project. The latter is known for his very unusual, alternative living-spaces idea, which includes an underwater hotel room and a very expensive, multi-floored tree house.
According to the first estimates put forth by the team, the small cabin that will be placed on the Moon will be red with white trims, and will have a mass no greater than 5 kilograms. Also, the transport mass has to remain below the 6-liter volume, while at the same time providing a finished product that offers a 10-square-meter living space for any visiting astronaut.
The job that Roony the robot will have to do is the actual assembly of the cottage once the “package” is safely delivered to the Moon. The details of the entire project, including a carrier vehicle and the materials from which the construction will be made are still being worked out, but the plan is to have everything operational and deployed by 2012.