NASA is building a railway station on the moon

It's called "Flexible Levitation on a Track (FLOAT)

It's a step towards sustained human presence on the moon

NASA is pioneering a groundbreaking lunar railway system, dubbed “Flexible Levitation on a Track (FLOAT)”, as part of its ambitious plans to facilitate sustained human presence on the moon. The innovative project aims to deploy magnetic robots traversing a three-layer film track, offering reliable and efficient payload transport vital for future lunar activities. With a capacity to ferry approximately 100 tons of material daily, FLOAT’s significance lies in its pivotal role in supporting the operations of a sustainable lunar base slated for the 2030s.

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This lunar railway holds paramount importance in addressing logistical challenges inherent to lunar exploration. By autonomously navigating the rugged lunar terrain, FLOAT will facilitate the seamless transportation of materials and equipment to and from various sites, augmenting the productivity and flexibility of lunar missions. Moreover, its capability to operate with minimal site preparation underscores its adaptability to the harsh lunar environment.

Crucially, FLOAT is poised to play a pivotal role in NASA’s Artemis program, aiming to return astronauts to the moon for the first time in over half a century. As NASA targets a landmark lunar landing in September 2026, the development of this advanced transport infrastructure underscores the agency’s commitment to advancing human exploration beyond Earth’s bounds, heralding a new era of lunar exploration and discovery.