Bofffins claim lunar manipulator is tougher than a Terminator
NASA is testing a new robotic arm that could revolutionize exoplanetary science for a reason most of us have probably never even considered: It doesn't need to be kept warm in order to work.
The Cold Operable Lunar Deployable Arm, or COLDArm, is being designed to operate on the south pole of the Moon, a focus of future lunar research and where future Artemis missions areOne problem: the Moon's South Pole gets colder than the surface of Mars, NASA.
"COLDArm would let missions continue working and conducting science even in extreme cryogenic environments," said project principal investigator Ryan McCormick. COLDArm has already succeeded at tests of its ability to gather and process data; tests of the arm's ability in spacelike conditions are next on the agenda.There's no lubrication used to grease the parts that control the COLDArm.
McCormick referenced the film Terminator 2 where the machine is temprarily stopped when frozen in liquid nitrogen."The bad guy can't work in those temperatures, but COLDArm could," he said., the materials are prized for their high plasticity and remarkable strength, and have been used in plenty of applications since their discovery in the 1960s, from things like golf clubs to electronics. They also don't get brittle in cold temperatures, which make them ideal gears for COLDArm.
"Initial testing has demonstrated strong torque and smooth turning without lubricant, even at -328 degrees Fahrenheit ," NASA said.
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