This project is called the Moon Utility Navigation Tower with Advanced Remote Sensing and Automated Beam for Energy Redistribution (abbreviated as LUNARSABER).
The initiative is proposed and constructed directly by Honeybee Robotics. It is part of the LunA-10 initiative by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), aimed at promoting lunar activities by providing nearly continuous solar energy, communication capabilities, and ongoing navigation support.
The ambitious LUNARSABER concept from Honeybee Robotics is expected to be a game-changer in lunar exploration and the search for life on the Moon. (Illustration: André Kallauch).
Initially, this electric tower is projected to rise more than 200 meters above the lunar surface, with solar panels, energy storage and transmission equipment, communication systems, and navigation monitoring devices integrated at the top.
Additionally, the tower will feature an advanced lighting system integrated with communication systems. This will enable the tower to effectively function as a beacon for lunar exploration, similar to lighthouses on Earth.
Kris Zacny, Vice President of Exploration Systems at Honeybee Robotics in Altadena, California, stated: “At the very top of the structure, there will be cameras, lights, and communication systems. We have lights to illuminate areas for explorers and astronauts.”
Kris Zacny also believes that LUNARSABER could utilize in-situ resources on the Moon, as it is a highly adaptable utility solution that lays the groundwork for a prosperous lunar economy in the near future.
According to technology experts at Honeybee Robotics, LUNARSABER has the potential to turn night into day in the deepest craters on the Moon. This truly is a game-changing system, paving the way for a new prosperous economy on the Moon in the long term.
