Blue Origin to Upgrade New Shepard for Lunar Gravity Simulation

Blue Origin to Aid NASA with Lunar Gravity Simulation

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is set to deliver a significant asset to NASA as the agency progresses toward its objective of revisiting the Moon. This contribution will be the capacity to conduct experiments replicating lunar gravity, but in the more accessible environment of suborbital space.

New Shepard Modification for Lunar Gravity

NASA has announced that Blue Origin will be adapting its New Shepard reusable launch system. The modification involves utilizing the spacecraft’s capsule rotation to approximate Moon gravity.

Essentially, this will transform the vehicle into a large-scale centrifuge. Objects contained within will then experience a gravitational force closely mirroring that of the lunar surface.

Advantages Over Existing Simulation Methods

While methods for simulating lunar gravity already exist, New Shepard’s implementation offers unique advantages. These include a significantly longer duration of exposure – exceeding two minutes of continuous artificial Moon gravity – and a greater payload capacity.

This increased capacity will enable experiments currently limited by spatial constraints.

Timeline and Artemis Program Support

Blue Origin projects that this enhanced capability for New Shepard will be operational by 2022. This timing is crucial, as the system is designed to directly support NASA’s Artemis program.

The Artemis program aims to re-establish human exploration of the Moon, and to build a sustained crewed research presence in lunar orbit and on the lunar surface.

Implications for Future Missions

Lunar surface gravity is approximately one-sixth of Earth’s gravity. NASA emphasizes that experimentation under these conditions is vital, not only for lunar missions, but also for preparing for future crewed missions to Mars.

Mars’ gravity is roughly one-third of Earth’s, necessitating similar preparatory research.

Collaboration on Lunar Landers

Blue Origin is also collaborating with NASA on the development of human landers for lunar missions. This effort involves a partnership with other leading aerospace companies, including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Draper.