
Batteries power the current design, but liquid-oxygen and liquid-hydrogen fuel cells—no batteries to run out of power—could replace them in the future. The wheels will rotate 360 degrees, allowing the platform to travel in any direction. The only extraneous part of the design is the gold color, from ano-dized aluminum, added for retro flair. A more suitable (albeit pricier) metal, such as gold foil, will provide thermal protection when the rover goes into operation.
Five amazing, clean technologies that will set us free, in this month's energy-focused issue. Also: how to build a better bomb detector, the robotic toys that are raising your children, a human catapult, the world's smallest arcade, and much more.


Online Content Director: Suzanne LaBarre | Email
Senior Editor: Paul Adams | Email
Associate Editor: Dan Nosowitz | Email
Assistant Editor: Colin Lecher | Email
Assistant Editor: Rose Pastore | Email
Contributing Writers:
Rebecca Boyle | Email
Kelsey D. Atherton | Email
Francie Diep | Email
Shaunacy Ferro | Email
Very cool prototype in deed. I like the fact that they took the retro flare and incorporated it into the "rover". Now, if they could take all of that and create the "Lunar Golf Rover" so that we can go play golf on the moon, that would be great, like the one seen here at www.ootwo.com/moon.asp . I cannot wait until they go back to the moon. One other "point of interest". The photo of the new prototype with the mock lunar soil and the astronaut look VERY real. Not that I am a "we never really went to the moon" guy, but dang, it looks like he is on the moon doesn't it?
How long till FormLuna X racing on the moon, thats what we want to know. Maglev hydrogen ion drives, yeah, thats the ticket. High velocity figure 8's around the planet and moon every 4th lap. No turns at all. Victory lap skipping around Earth's atmosphere for a show. That'll sell yer beer for ya.