NASA is preparing astronauts for the harsh lunar environment of the upcoming Artemis III mission by simulating extreme lighting conditions at its Flat Floor Facility in Huntsville, Alabama. The facility uses high-intensity lighting and low-fidelity mock-ups to recreate the Moon’s unique South Pole lighting.
Engineers are using this setup to study how shadows affect lander inspection and assessment efforts during future crewed missions. By moving large structures across the air-bearing floor, they can inspect shadows from multiple angles to ensure mission success and astronaut safety.
The testing is also improving models used by Artemis astronauts for lander and surface operations on the Moon. The results are helping cross-agency teams evaluate various tools and techniques that will be used during the mission.
NASA’s 86-foot-long Flat Floor Facility is a unique laboratory, allowing objects to move across the floor without friction on an air-bearing cushion. Test teams use large lights to replicate the low-angle, high-contrast conditions of the lunar South Pole, while fabric simulates the reflective properties of lunar regolith.
The Sun’s permanent low angle at the Moon’s South Pole means astronauts will experience high contrasts between lit and shadowed regions. The laboratory is designed for “human in-the-loop testing,” allowing people to walk around and experience this phenomenon with their naked eye.
NASA is working with SpaceX to develop the Starship Human Landing System, which will safely send Artemis astronauts to the Moon’s surface and back to lunar orbit. The Artemis campaign aims to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/esdmd/artemis-campaign-development-division/human-landing-system-program/nasa-engineers-simulate-lunar-lighting-for-artemis-iii-moon-landing