The U.S. Defense Department is delving into futuristic transportation methods with a new project that aims to establish a moon-based railway system. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected Northrop Grumman Corp to further develop the concept of a lunar railroad as part of its 10-year Lunar Architecture Capability Study.
The idea behind this project is to create a network of railways on the moon that can transport humans, supplies, and resources for commercial ventures. This infrastructure could potentially contribute to a space economy for the United States and its international partners. Northrop Grumman will be studying the resources required to build a lunar railway, as well as identifying costs, risks, and prototypes for a fully operating lunar rail system.
The last crewed mission to the moon was Apollo 17 in 1972, and there has been a renewed interest in lunar exploration in recent years. Companies like SpaceX, Rocket Lab USA Inc, Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc, and Blue Origin are all making strides in space exploration and space tourism. DARPA’s project to develop a lunar railway system is seen as a key step in accelerating technologies that could be used by both the government and commercial space industry to advance space exploration.
According to DARPA program manager Michael Nayak, the next 10 years could bring a “large paradigm shift” in the lunar economy, and projects like the lunar railway system will play a crucial role in getting to that turning point more quickly.
This ambitious project represents a significant advancement in space exploration and could pave the way for new opportunities in lunar commerce and travel. With the support of DARPA and innovative companies like Northrop Grumman, the dream of a moon-based railway system may soon become a reality.
