Scientists propose to use the M.A.C.E.D.D.O.N.A.S. device in the exploration of the Moon, which they compare to a giant glove with which they will catch cargo arriving on our moon.
How to catch cargo on the Moon
Soon mankind will start to explore the Moon, and for this purpose a large amount of cargo will have to be sent there. And although gravity on our moon is six times lower than on Earth, each descent to the surface is still a very complex operation with considerable risk of accident.
The European company Lunar Cargo proposes to solve this problem with the Momentum Absorbion Catcher for Express Deliveries on Non-Atmospheric Somata, or M.A.C.C.E.D.D.O.N.A.S. system. They compare it to the giant glove they use in baseball to catch the ball, even though it looks nothing like it.
However, it uses a similar principle of taking on kinetic momentum and gently extinguishing it through elastic deformation. Visually, M.A.C.C.E.D.D.O.N.A.S. looks like a system of nets and cables made of smart material.
How the system will work
M.A.C.E.D.D.O.N.A.S. is based on the fact that there is no atmosphere on the Moon, and as a result, spacecraft with sufficient speed can fly almost parallel to the surface for a long time, descending slowly enough.
And here they should be caught by the first M.A.C.C.E.D.D.O.N.A.S. net, which will entangle them, stretch out on cables, and force them to slow down precisely over a structure that looks like a giant trampoline, which will finally stop their movement, and then the Mars rovers will take over and pick it up.
Something similar is used on airfields for emergency braking of airplanes. This is also where the smart material will be used. Receiving momentum from the weight, it will stretch, absorbing energy, but after all, it is possible to pass an electric current through it, and it will return to its former shape.
And when the clever material eventually deforms so that it can’t be repaired, it can be remade, and the 3D printer can print the net again. In theory, the idea looks great, and its authors have already won several awards at competitions. In reality, it will probably not be realized for a long time, although representatives of Lunar Cargo are negotiating with those companies that plan to extract resources on the Moon and hope for the best.
According to phys.org
