I think anyone would'd by happy enough just to get anything into space. Let alone land a moonrover on the Moon.

-Tanner

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Tanner S.

Sounds so simple !

When you build stuff that has to be reliable, it costs a whole lot more.

Aircraft grade stuff costs many times normal consumer grade prices.
The consequences of gear not working are so dramatic.

Well space grade stuff it even more so !
How much would it cost to send a service technician to the moon ??

I guess that the real numbers would be prohibitive.
My 2c worth anyway.

Michael

many universities and little companies ALREADY build and launch micro-satellites at very low cost

the most important part of each mission will be the earth to orbit flight, but it is "included in the price" of all rockets... you give the "box" and they will launch it to the orbit you want

the launch from earth orbit to moon may be easy with the same low cost engines and technology used with hundreds geostationary comm satellites

the lunar landing will need some research but an airbag-like landing may be simple and low cost

about moon repair... the strategy of my idea of VME (see its page on my website) is completely different from past rovers' strategy

NOT a few, very high priced, "perfect" rovers, but, HUNDREDS reliable and very low cost rovers!

if we send four $100 million each "perfect" rovers, they MUST work!

but, if rovers will cost $500,000 each, we can send dozens rovers with each rocket, so, if 30% of them will fail, the 70% that work well may explore the entire moon surface

about moonrovers' prize competition... I think that the "first prize competition" may need only a "safe moon landing and a few days of 3D images", we can't want too much from first missions

next, when we will have more experience, more complex competitions can be made


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Moonrovers' Prize Competition www.gaetanomarano.it/moonprize/moonprize.html

The original moonrover tires were spun or woven out of stainless steel piano wire . The tweel technology is awsome

if you are really trying to put a segway on the moon, then it better be a XT... love them XT's

....for as long as I can STAND....

As I understand it, there's already a fairly well-established relationship between DEKA/Segway and NASA. I'm sure NASA is well aware of Segway's products and capabilities ... those both released to the public and yet to be revealed. If there's a way that Segway technology could be used in future moon missions, I'm sure that's already been considered.

Brooster

then... my idea can really born!

however, I hope that Segway will offer its technology and experience also to universities and private companies to send HUNDREDS exploration rovers on the moon, not only half dozen!


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Moonrovers' Prize Competition www.gaetanomarano.it/moonprize/moonprize.html

if you have any further info or links about Segway/NASA research, please post them here, thank you


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Moonrovers' Prize Competition www.gaetanomarano.it/moonprize/moonprize.html

Here's one.

http://www.space.com/businesstechnol...es_040823.html

Brooster

it's an interesting project but too complex since implies virtual reality, advanced robotics, human hands replication, etc.

only big companies and space agencies like NASA may have the funds and experience to develop and use things like it

I hope that Segway will develop and sell a simple Segway-based technology devoted only to easy and safe moving on the unknown moon surface to avoid obstacles and solve traveling problems, so, little companies and universities may use that technology as a reliable base for simple and complex moonrovers


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Moonrovers' Prize Competition www.gaetanomarano.it/moonprize/moonprize.html