Engineers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have pinpointed a surprising flaw in how NASA tests its rovers on Earth. For decades, researchers adjusted rover weight to mimic lower gravity on the Moon or Mars, but they overlooked how Earth’s gravity affects the sand itself. In reality, lunar soil is much looser and less supportive than […]



Summary

University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers discovered a critical oversight in NASA’s rover testing. While NASA adjusts rover weight to simulate lower gravity on other planets, they neglect the impact of Earth’s gravity on the granular material used for testing. Lunar and Martian soil behave differently under Earth’s gravity, becoming more compact and supportive than their true counterparts. This means rover performance on Earth may not accurately reflect its capabilities in the lower gravity environments of the Moon or Mars, potentially leading to inaccurate predictions and performance expectations.

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