Tag: lava tubes
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The Origami Wheel: A Foldable Robot That Could Probe Lunar Caves
Unlocking Lunar Subsurface Mysteries with an Origami Wheel Scientists and engineers are turning to a surprisingly simple idea to revolutionize how we explore the Moon: an origami-inspired wheel that can fold, flex, and adapt to tight lunar passages. The concept marries modular robotics with the physics of lunar lava tubes—long, hollow channels carved by ancient…
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The Origami Wheel That Could Explore Lunar Caves
Introduction: A Folding Idea for Far-Reaching Exploration The Moon’s quiet surface hides a labyrinth of lava tubes and deep pits beneath its cratered shell. These lunar caves could shelter future bases from radiation and temperature swings, serving as safer homes for astronauts and thriving research stations. But to access these natural shelters, scientists must overcome…