NASA successfully tests autonomous lunar lander navigation system, codename GENIE (video)

Robonaut2 may have fantastic biceps, but raw muscle won't put a man humanoid on the moon -- that takes rockets. Rockets like the one in this RR-1 prototype lander, recently outfitted with a Guidance Embedded Navigator Integration Environment (GENIE) system to let the craft safely descend to the lunar surface. On June 23rd, NASA and partner Armadillo Aerospace put the system to the test, hoping it could figure out the complex algorithms necessary to process volumes of data from the laser altimeter, GPS and inertial sensors, and quickly enough to steer the rocket engine accordingly... but the machine performed like a charm. See its first solo flight in an inspiring, flame-filled video after the break, and skip to 4:12 for the good stuff.

[GErvy Posted Jul 6th 2010 9:35PM]

@bleakvision


Don't you know... NASA stopped because they were told to... by the aliens on the far side of the moon. Ask Armstrong, he knows.

[negative Posted Jul 4th 2010 9:45AM]

primitive

[Bengal34 Posted Jul 4th 2010 9:54AM]

That lander's got balls.

[ajlowndes Posted Jul 4th 2010 10:01AM]

all right this is going to sound dumb, but what exactly are they going to use as a propellant when they are in space with no, um, air to burn like that?

[GErvy Posted Jul 6th 2010 9:37PM]

@ajlowndes


Wow... you REALLY need to read up on how even the old rockets work.
Fuel was mixed with liquid oxygen!!!

Don't try to be smarter than NASA nerds.

[ajlowndes Posted Jul 6th 2010 10:38PM]

@GErvy

wasn't trying to be smart (accountant ≠ rocket scientist), hence the "this is going to sound dumb...". and it's easier to ask you guys than look it up myself :) Thanks for the answer.

[POZ Posted Jul 4th 2010 10:35AM]

I don't see any XDA Devs here. Which is what it will take to get this going ahead of schedule.

[joevenuto Posted Jul 4th 2010 12:21PM]

Awesome!

[bigbudha Posted Jul 4th 2010 3:08PM]

i thought they already landed on the moon with a paper bag, aluminum foil, a turkey baster, And A CALCULATOR.

[stridermt2k Posted Jul 4th 2010 4:05PM]

Well done, team.

Well done.

[prometeum Posted Jul 4th 2010 4:11PM]

I thought making a "ball joke" about this was going to be original... I was sooo right.

NASA blows their balls up [not away, up to space]

There you have it, my "ball joke" super original contribution.

[kurls Posted Jul 4th 2010 7:53PM]

the whole program is going nowhere if thats how they tighten bolts at 0:50.

[mcphja2 Posted Jul 4th 2010 11:38PM]

Um, does the moon have gps?