NASA recently conducted a flight test on Blue Origin’s New Shepard reusable suborbital rocket system in West Texas, simulating lunar gravity for two minutes. The test was designed to help prepare technologies and instruments for future missions to the Moon.
The test began on February 4, 2025, with a launch at 10:00 a.m. CST. NASA’s Flight Opportunities program provided support to enhance the flight capabilities of New Shepard and replicate the Moon’s gravity during suborbital flight. This allowed researchers to test various payloads, including those designed to study lunar dust, subsurface water, and combustion on the Moon.
One example is the LUCI (Lunar-g Combustion Investigation) payload, which aims to understand material flammability on the Moon. The test also included seven payloads from NASA’s Game Changing Development program that seek to mitigate the impact of lunar dust and perform construction and excavation on the lunar surface.
The successful test demonstrates the importance of simulated lunar gravity in reducing risk for innovations destined for the Moon. By testing these technologies, NASA aims to perfect its lunar exploration capabilities and pave the way for future missions.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasa-tests-in-simulated-lunar-gravity-to-prep-payloads-for-moon