IT media BGR reported on the 5th (local time) that the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is looking for a company to build a ‘lunar freezer’ that astronauts can use while exploring the moon.
According to reports, NASA recently posted a request for information (RFI) related to the lunar freezer on SAM.gov, a U.S. federal government procurement website.
The photo shows the lunar surface inflatable residential module proposed by Austria’s Neumossel. (Photo = New Mocell/ESA)
According to the published RFI, the lunar freezer will be used to safely store items collected by astronauts on the moon until they can be sent back to Earth.
Additionally, the lunar freezer “will also be used to store and transport human biological and physiological samples collected during the mission,” the RFI states. This will likely be used to analyze how spaceflight and long-term stays on the moon affect the bodies of astronauts.
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The size of the lunar freezer proposed by NASA must be at least 25.4×25.4x66cm, weigh less than 54.8kg, and be maintained at -49 degrees Celsius for at least 30 days. In addition, it was explained that the development of the lunar freezer should be completed before the end of 2027.
This idea was also reviewed by NASA in 2020. BGR commented that this procurement plan is likely to be for future manned lunar exploration missions.
