Jason Schuler, engineer at NASA Swamp Works, Magnus Hedlund, systems engineer at Honeybee Robotics, PISCES Project Manager Rodrigo Romo, PISCES Executive Director Rob Kelso and Hawaii County Department of Research and Development Deputy Director Donn Mende pose for a picture with PISCES’ Helelani rover.
The Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems hosted a tour of its new lunar landing pad project Wednesday, Oct. 28.
Donn Mende, deputy director for the Hawaii County Department of Research and Development, along with engineers from NASA Swamp Works and Honeybee Robotics were present for the event.
During the tour, PISCES Executive Director Rob Kelso discussed the project’s recently accomplished milestone, bringing the project one step closer to completion. PISCES scientists also demonstrated how the landing pad would be built by using the company’s Helelani rover, which recently was outfitted with a robotic “arm” that will place basalt pavers onto the site. A similar technique will be used in space to build landing and launch pads in the future.
Development of the site is part of PISCES’ Additive Construction for Mobile Emplacement project and is a partnership with NASA Swamp Works, Honeybee Robotics, ARGO, Hawaii County Department of Research and Development and the state of Hawaii.