00:00NASA is currently planning its next big mission to the moon, with the Artemis 3 manned mission
00:08set to touch down in 2026.
00:11The whole thing will be a jumping off point to Mars, with astronauts expected to set up
00:15a lunar base for that purpose.
00:17Now NASA has just announced plans for this, what is essentially a mini railway system
00:21to help them ferry supplies around the moon.
00:23They're calling it float, or flexible levitation on a track, and it has been selected by the
00:28Space Agency for additional funding.
00:30It's all part of NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts Program, Phase 2, and the levitating
00:34railway is set to receive an additional $600,000 for development.
00:39According to its developers, the system will provide reliable, autonomous, and efficient
00:43payload transport on the moon, using magnetic robots that literally float over the track
00:48and move supplies wherever they're needed.
00:50Researchers say the robots will need to be able to move upwards of 220,000 pounds of
00:54lunar regolith and other supplies daily, all while consuming less than 40 kilowatts
00:59of power.
01:00A tall order.
01:01However, float isn't the only project which has received more funding for research.
01:05Other projects include a pulse plasma rocket, which its developers say could substantially
01:09reduce travel times around the solar system.
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