GPS-type system to help map lunar landscape

GPS system has inspired researchers to develop a similar tracking and mapping system for astronauts on the Moon. Moon's terrain and landscape pose a number of dangers and the obscure perils have in fact slowed research on the Moon. Hence, when Ron Li, a professor of Ohio State University came up with the idea for the Moon mapping system, NASA was impressed and granted him 1.2 million dollars to develop the concept. A major disadvantage is that moon doesn't have satellites of it's own unlike Earth, resulting in a slightly different approach to develop the mapping system. The system is going to involve lunar beacons, stereo cameras, and orbital imaging sensors and would work rather in a similar fashion to GPS system. The system, when developed would allow astronauts to know where exactly they are and also to map the lunar terrain and landscape.

gps on the moon TepDa 17340

Via: Dvice