NASA has greenlit further funding for a study investigating a futuristic concept: a levitating robot train for the Moon. The project, dubbed “Flexible Levitation on a Track” (FLOAT), has advanced to phase two of NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program (NIAC), which fosters the development of “science fiction-like” projects for future space exploration.
The FLOAT project envisions magnetic robots levitating over a three-layer film track, minimizing abrasion from lunar dust. Carts mounted on these robots will carry materials at a speed of roughly 1 mph (1.61 km/h), capable of transporting approximately 100 tons (90 metric tons) daily to and from NASA’s planned lunar base.
According to project leader and robotics engineer Dr. Samuele Tursi of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, FLOAT aims to establish the first lunar railway system. This system will provide reliable autonomous payload transport, which is crucial for sustainable lunar base operations in the 2030s.
As part of NASA’s Artemis mission, the agency plans to return astronauts to the Moon, with the ultimate goal of setting up a permanent lunar base to facilitate future space exploration. The FLOAT project is one of several “science fiction-like” NIAC concepts that have advanced to the next development phase, including fluid-based telescopes and a plasma-propelled rocket. These concepts represent NASA’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration technology and enabling人類’s continued journey into the cosmos.
