University Team Tests Vented Prototype for Lunar Landing Pads

A University of Alabama in Huntsville team tested a prototype lunar landing pad with three rocket-motor firings this summer.

The work is part of a multi-year partnership with Linc Research, supported by NASA’s Small Business Technology Transfer program.

The modular pad uses channels to capture and redirect rocket exhaust, unlike a solid surface that must withstand the full force and heat of a plume.

The prototype was 3.65 metres across and made from concrete, used as a stand-in for materials that could be made from lunar soil.

Lunar rocket blasts can send dust flying at high speeds, potentially harming nearby habitats, equipment and spacecraft.

The team aims to develop pads that are easier to build, expand and repair on the Moon, helping make future lunar operations safer.