{"id":547,"date":"2022-03-02T15:24:41","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T15:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/03\/02\/new-company-run-by-former-nasa-leader-aims-to-build-robotic-outpost-near-the-moon\/"},"modified":"2022-03-02T15:24:41","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T15:24:41","slug":"new-company-run-by-former-nasa-leader-aims-to-build-robotic-outpost-near-the-moon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/03\/02\/new-company-run-by-former-nasa-leader-aims-to-build-robotic-outpost-near-the-moon\/","title":{"rendered":"New company run by former NASA leader aims to build robotic outpost near the Moon"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source: https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2022\/2\/3\/22914873\/quantum-space-lunar-robotic-outpost-nasa-artemis<\/a>
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A new startup run by a former acting NASA administrator hopes to capitalize on the recent zeal for lunar space exploration by building robotic outposts and spacecraft to send to space near the Moon. Their goal is to create a fleet of robotic helpers that can do a variety of tasks near the Moon, such as providing internet capabilities, collecting data, refueling spacecraft, and assembling structures in lunar space.<\/p>\n

The company called Quantum Space<\/a> was formed in 2021. At the helm is Steve Jurczyk, who served as NASA\u2019s associate administrator beginning in 2018, before becoming the agency\u2019s acting administrator when President Biden was inaugurated. After retiring in May, Jurczyk decided to team up with three additional entrepreneurs and experts in the space industry to create this new company based out of Maryland.<\/p>\n

Jurczyk, who is the president and CEO of the company, says Quantum Space is focused on the Moon since NASA is also focused on returning there. The space agency\u2019s primary human spaceflight enterprise at the moment is Artemis, a massive initiative to send the first woman and the first person of color to the lunar surface. Along with performing a series of human landings, NASA is also partnering with various commercial companies to send a fleet of landers and rovers to the Moon to explore the environment. Given all of these proposed lunar missions, Quantum Space felt like there was an opportunity to create vehicles that could be useful in the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know there\u2019s going to be a lot of activity around and on the Moon in the coming decade, primarily driven by Artemis,\u201d Jurczyk tells The Verge<\/em>. \u201cBut you know, national security \u2014 where civil spaces goes, national security will have to go also.\u201d Jurczyk anticipates Space Force and other military entities might leverage NASA\u2019s lunar exploration and become customers in the future.<\/p>\n

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