NASA has announced its plans to construct the first lunar railway system, a durable and long-lasting robotic transport system that will be essential for the daily operations of a sustainable lunar base in the 2030s. The system will include FLOAT (Flexible Levitation on a Track), which utilizes unpowered magnetic robots that levitate over a 3-layer flexible film track. FLOAT robots will minimize lunar dust abrasion/wear by levitating over the track, unlike lunar robots equipped with wheels, legs, or tracks.
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NASA is developing a robotic railway system called FLOAT to support future lunar missions. The system aims to provide transportation services and enable the transportation of lunar soil and other materials across the moon’s surface. FLOAT is based on magnetic levitation technology and consists of flat, magnetic panels that levitate over a flat rail line. It has no moving parts and is powered by electromagnetic energy. The system is currently in development and testing, and if successful, could be used in future moon missions.