TECHNOLOGY · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
NASA Data Helps Commercial Space Plan Living Off Our Moon
WHY IT MATTERS
This collaboration between NASA and commercial space companies highlights the potential for space technology to improve life on Earth and demonstrates the agency's commitment to technology transfer and spinoffs.
What happened
NASA has been collecting data on the Moon for decades, providing a wealth of information for commercial space companies. The agency's data is being used by Lunar Station Corp. to help plan missions, including scientific research for mining operations.
The company is using NASA's data to create terrain maps and identify indicators for shallow pits of lunar water. This information will aid in determining the best locations for landing pads, roving paths, and communication strategies. The MoonHacker program, developed by Lunar Station, uses proprietary geospatial analytics and advanced algorithms to fuse NASA's lunar data, making it easier for companies to plan their missions.
This collaboration between NASA and commercial space companies is an example of the agency's Technology Transfer program, which aims to use space-based solutions to improve life on Earth. The program has been documenting the everyday benefits of space technology for 50 years through its Spinoff publication.
DEVELOPING STORY
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PRIMARY SOURCES
NASA Data Helps Commercial Space Plan Living Off Our Moon
NASA · Andrew Wagner · NASA media usage guidelines; third-party material excluded