NASA drone test boosts lunar landing tech readiness
On 27 Aug, NASA successfully flew an Alta‑X drone equipped with the SPLICE payload through simulated lunar descent and landing maneuvers, raising the technology readiness level for future robotic and crewed missions. The flight took place over Rogers Dry Lake near the Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. During the test the payload produced high‑resolution digital elevation maps to evaluate landing safety and was programmed to divert the drone to an alternate site if hazards were detected.
Key facts
- Integration work on the SPLICE payload occurred in June and July before the August flight.
- The upcoming full‑scale trial will be held at Voyager Technologies in Mojave later this month.
- SPLICE uses lidar to create detailed terrain maps for landing safety analysis.
- The Alta‑X drone platform was selected for its ability to perform autonomous descent maneuvers.
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Why it matters
Demonstrates key capabilities for safe lunar landings in upcoming missions.
What changed
First published from NASA and Phys.org