The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation to develop a concept for a rail network on the Moon. This agreement was signed as part of a program to study the possibilities of lunar architecture in the coming years (LunA-10).
The details of the contract are not disclosed, but it describes the tasks that the contractor will have to solve. Northrop Grumman must propose the railroad structure, interfaces and resources to be used. She will list projected costs, technology and logistics risks, and develop prototypes to evaluate different concepts. In addition, Northrop Grumman will have to show whether such a network can be built only using robots, and provide the ability to maintain and repair the infrastructure.
It is too early to talk about implementing such a project in the near future. However, DARPA is confident that when the need for transportation services for future lunar bases arises, the industry must be prepared for it.
The use of rail transport for lunar conditions looks promising. Such highways will automate logistics tasks and save people from unnecessary risks when traveling between lunar bases and when moving cargo.
Let us recall that two groups of countries are currently working to create their own bases in the area of the South Pole of the Moon. One group is involved in the US Artemis lunar program, the other group is led by China.