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New folding buggy for moon base

Ling Xin
12 Apr, 2023
Photo: Handout
Photo: Handout
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Scientists have developed a small, foldable vehicle. It is for an emergency return to the moon base or for short trips around the base.

The four-wheeled buggy, which can be folded and tucked in the back of a regular roving vehicle, can be easily expanded. It has a top speed of 10km/h, according to the team from the China Academy of Space Technology.

During performance tests, the vehicle rolled over 10cm-high obstacles and climbed a slope.

The vehicle carried two people weighing a total 130kg during the tests. 

The vehicle is designed to carry a 90kg load on the moon's surface. This weight is equal to about 540kg on Earth, where the gravity is around six times that on the moon.

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