Monday, August 3, 2026
Science

Extreme Lunar conditions need an extreme test rig

When people eventually head to the moon for long-term exploration and habitation, they'll need equipment and spacesuits made of well-tested materials. That's where NASA's Lunar Environment Test Rig (LESTR) comes in handy. It simulates extreme cold lunar night conditions right here on Earth in a NASA...

Extreme Lunar conditions need an extreme test rig
Image: Phys.org
When people eventually head to the moon for long-term exploration and habitation, they'll need equipment and spacesuits made of well-tested materials. That's where NASA's Lunar Environment Test Rig (LESTR) comes in handy. It simulates extreme cold lunar night conditions right here on Earth in a NASA Glenn lab, testing lunar-bound materials in temperatures ranging from 40 K to 125 K (-233 C to -148 C) in a vacuum.

Originally published at Phys.org

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