NASA successfully tested Morpheus lander in rocky darkness

    The goal of the Morpheus project is to create an automatic module for soft landing on the surface of other planets in difficult conditions. The key subsystem of the module, Autonomous Landing Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT), with the help of three lidars finds a safe place for landing, where there are no large boulders and holes, and gently lands the device on the selected site. Especially for testing Morpheus, a platform dotted with craters and cobbles of various sizes has been created.



    May 28 was the first night flight of the device. Altogether, this is already the fourteenth flight test of Morpheus. The module rose to a height of 244 meters and, using the ALHAT system in a completely autonomous mode, chose a landing site and landed. The flight lasted 98 seconds. Previous Morpheus trials took place during the day. Here is another video of the flight, shot from a different angle:



    NASA expects that the technology developed with the help of Morpheus in the future will allow not only sending automated research modules to planets, moons and asteroids of the Solar System, but also carrying out manned flights. The module's engines run on liquid oxygen and methane. Theoretically, on a long expedition with people on board, both of these components can be a byproduct of life support and waste management systems. In addition, oxygen and methane are a cheap and environmentally friendly fuel, which allows flight tests on the ground to be much cheaper and safer.


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