Days after it launched the New Glenn rocket into orbit, Jeff Bezos-led Blue Origin is all set to launch the New Shepard spacecraft on Tuesday.
The New Shepard spacecraft will not carry tourists to space this time. Instead, it will launch with 30 payloads to simulate the Moon’s gravity. The spacecraft will launch on January 28 from Launch Site One in West Texas at 9:30âïpm IST.
Blue Origin said that after breaching the Karman Line, nearly 100 kilometres above Earth, the payload will experience at least two minutes of lunar gravity forces to test six broad lunar technologies.
The payload involves technology related to in-situ resource utilisation, dust mitigation, advanced habitation systems, sensors and instrumentation, small spacecraft technologies, and entry descent and landing.
“Proving out these technologies at lower cost is another step toward Blue Origin’s mission to lower the cost of access to space for the benefit of Earth. It also enables NASA and other lunar surface technology providers to test innovations critical to achieving Artemis program goals and exploring the Moon’s surface,” Blue Origin said in a statement.
How will NEW SHEPARD SIMULATE MOON GRAVITY?
To simulate lunar gravity, which is about one-sixth of Earth’s gravity, the New Shepard crew capsule will use the Reaction Control System (RCS).
Engineers will use the RCS to spin up to approximately 11 revolutions per minute. This spin rate simulates one-sixth of Earth’s gravity at the midpoint of the crew capsule lockers.
” In simulated lunar gravity, customers can accelerate their learning and technology readiness for lunar payloads at much lower cost. Previously, the Moon’s gravity could only be simulated a few seconds at a time via centrifuge drop tower or for ~20 seconds aboard parabolic flights,” Blue Origin added.
This will be the 29th flight of New Shepard and of the 30 payloads, 29 will fly inside the crew capsule and one will fly on the booster with exposure to the ambient space environment.
