La Agencia de Proyectos de Investigaci\u00f3n Avanzada de Defensa de EE.UU. (DARPA) est\u00e1 iniciando un estudio de siete meses sobre la infraestructura y la tecnolog\u00eda de referencia necesarias para desarrollar una econom\u00eda basada en la Luna en la pr\u00f3xima d\u00e9cada. Podr\u00eda incluir tecnolog\u00eda militar y comercial de doble uso, como una estaci\u00f3n de energ\u00eda inal\u00e1mbrica que ofrece capacidades de comunicaci\u00f3n y navegaci\u00f3n. El papel potencial de la agencia en estimular la econom\u00eda lunar es comparable con sus contribuciones al origen de Internet.<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON \u2014 The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is kicking off a seven-month study of the infrastructure and baseline technology needed to develop a moon-based economy within the next decade.<\/p>\n
Through\u00a0<\/a>the lunar architecture study<\/a>, dubbed LunA-10, DARPA aims to establish an analytical framework for \u201crapid scientific and commercial activity on and around the moon,\u201d between 2025 and 2035, the agency said in an\u00a0Aug. 15 statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cA large paradigm shift is coming in the next 10 years for the lunar economy,\u201d Michael Nayak, program manager in DARPA\u2019s Strategic Technology Office, said in the statement. \u201cTo get to a turning point faster, LunA-10 uniquely aims to identify solutions that can enable multi-mission lunar systems.\u201d<\/p>\n Those \u201cmulti-mission systems\u201d could include dual-use military and commercial technology, like a wireless power station that offers communication and navigation capabilities, Nayak said. He likened the agency\u2019s potential role in spurring the lunar economy to its contributions to the origin of the internet.<\/p>\n \u201cJust like DARPA\u2019s foundational node of ARPANET grew into the sprawling web of the internet, LunA-10 is looking for those connective nodes to support a thriving commercial economy on the moon,\u201d Nayak said.<\/p>\n DARPA\u2019s study comes as the U.S. and other countries \u2014 as well as commercial companies \u2014 plan missions and envision a future economy on the moon.\u00a0In recent years, DARPA<\/a>\u00a0and the Air Force Research Laboratory have\u00a0started a number of programs<\/a>\u00a0that explore satellite sensing and logistics in a lunar environment.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency announced in May it is\u00a0developing a Lunar Reference Frame<\/a>\u00a0that will provide the mapping infrastructure to support a GPS-like capability for the moon.<\/p>\n The DARPA effort is focused on \u201cfusing\u201d various infrastructure sectors that have technological overlap into hubs that could be built up in the future, as economic activity on and around the moon increases. Those sectors include: transit and mobility; energy; communications; and other \u201crevolutionary orbital or surface infrastructure concepts.\u201d<\/p>\n While the agency does not plan to fund technology development, transportation to the moon or integration with space vehicles, it will form industry teams made up of companies with expertise in lunar technology. Those teams will help identify enabling capabilities, develop an analytical framework and consider logistical and technical challenges for lunar operations.<\/p>\n DARPA expects the study to begin in November and continue through June 2024. The agency is coordinating with NASA, which is crafting a blueprint for\u00a0scientific exploration on the moon and Mars<\/a>. That work includes developing an architecture for a long-term human presence in the region.<\/p>\n