NASA Offers $20,000 For A Plan To Rescue Astronauts Stranded On Moon

New Delhi: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is inviting ideas for rescuing astronauts stranded on the moon.

The organisation is also offering a reward of $20,000 for the best innovative idea of ‘Lunar Rescue System’, which can safely transport an astronaut across the rugged landscape of the moon.

Applications can be sent through the HeroX portal. Closing date for entries is January 23, 2025.

A panel of NASA experts and engineers will be evaluating and judging the applications, based on weight, ease and impact on the astronaut’s new Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Suit.

For more information, interested persons can visit the official website.

With the Artemis mission scheduled for September 2026, the organisation is concerned about the potential scenario of an astronaut being stranded on the lunar landscape.

The space agency is already exploring ways of tackling extreme temperatures, rough terrain, and bulky spacesuits, as part of its Artemis missions.

However, in case of emergency, a crewmate would need a rescue method to safely bring back the astronaut to the lunar lander.

“In the unforgiving lunar environment, the possibility of an astronaut crewmember becoming incapacitated due to unforeseen circumstances (injury, medical emergency, or a mission-related accident) is a critical concern,” said NASA’s Sarah Douglas, as quoted by The Sun.

The moon’s surface is covered with big rocks and deep craters that makes moving across the lunar landscape difficult. Therefore, an innovative solution is needed to overcome these hurdles.

“The solution must perform effectively in the moon’s extreme South Pole environment and operate independently of a lunar rover,” explained NASA.