As NASA prepares for the groundbreaking Artemis III mission—the first crewed mission to the Moon’s South Pole and the first to land the first woman on the lunar surface—the space agency is looking for innovative solutions to a critical challenge: astronaut safety during Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) on the Moon.
The Artemis III mission, scheduled for 2025, will mark a historic moment in space exploration, with two astronauts set to explore the lunar South Pole region. However, as NASA’s astronauts venture into one of the most rugged and unforgiving environments in the solar system, ensuring their safety is paramount. One of the most pressing concerns is the possibility of an astronaut becoming incapacitated—whether due to injury, a medical emergency, or a mission-related accident—while performing EVAs on the lunar surface.
In the hopes of finding a creative and effective solution to this potential risk, NASA has launched a new crowdsourcing competition, South Pole Safety: Designing the NASA Lunar Rescue System, in partnership with HeroX, an open marketplace for crowdsourced problem-solving. The competition seeks designs for a system that would allow a single astronaut to safely rescue and transport an incapacitated crewmember back to the Human Landing System (HLS) on the Moon. The winning entry will receive a portion of the total $45,000 prize pool.
The Challenge
The Lunar South Pole is a challenging and unpredictable environment. With craters and rocks ranging from 0.15 to 20 meters in diameter and slopes that can exceed 20 degrees, navigating the Moon’s surface is no simple feat. Add to this the extreme temperatures, low gravity, and harsh lighting conditions, and it becomes clear that any rescue operation would need to account for a host of obstacles.
NASA’s main concern is that in the event of an incapacitated astronaut, the remaining crew member would need to transport their partner—a fully suited astronaut weighing approximately 343 kg (~755 lbs)—across distances of up to 2 kilometers and on slopes as steep as 20 degrees. This must be done without the aid of a lunar rover or other heavy equipment, as the terrain is simply too rough and the lunar environment too extreme for conventional rescue methods.
This is where ingenuity and cutting-edge design come into play. The solution must be lightweight, easy to deploy, and able to function effectively in the South Pole’s extreme conditions. The ability for one astronaut to safely carry or drag a fellow astronaut back to the landing system is vital for ensuring crew safety and mission success.
The Stakes
NASA’s Artemis program represents more than just a return to the Moon—it is the next step toward human exploration of Mars and beyond. The Artemis III mission, specifically, will gather important scientific data, including samples from the lunar surface, which could offer new insights into the Moon’s geological history and its potential as a stepping stone for deep space exploration. The mission also aims to inspire the Artemis Generation, a new cohort of scientists, engineers, and explorers who will carry the torch of human space exploration into the future.
The safety of astronauts is paramount. A solution to the South Pole Rescue Challenge could help safeguard future lunar explorers and contribute to the broader goal of sustainable human presence on the Moon.
A Call to Innovators
NASA is inviting engineers, designers, and creative thinkers from around the world to submit their ideas for a lunar rescue system that can address these challenges. Whether you are a space enthusiast, a seasoned engineer, or someone with a passion for solving complex problems, this is an opportunity to contribute to one of the most ambitious missions in human space exploration history.
Submissions are open from November 14, 2024, to January 23, 2025. The competition is an exciting opportunity to develop a technology that could shape the future of lunar exploration and human space travel.
For more information, including how to submit your design, visit the official HeroX competition page: South Pole Safety: Designing the NASA Lunar Rescue System.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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