Field tests should soften Altair landing

摘要

NASA will next year field-test the laser altimeter, camera and flash light detection and ranging (lidar) technology that its Altair Lunar Lander could use to make a soft landing on the Moon's surface in 2020. The testing is part of NASA's Autonomous Landing and Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT) project. ALHAT is developing a precision landing and hazard avoidance system for both robotic and crewed versions of Altair. A flash lidar field test using helicopter flights in Death Valley, California was performed in May. ALHAT has to enable precision landing-touching down within 30m (98.3ft) of a target - be able to detect a vertical height change in the terrain of 300mm (11.8in) and slopes of more than 5°.