this post was submitted on 29 Jul 2025
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Space

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[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 22 points 5 days ago (5 children)

On the moon, the gravitational pull is six times weaker than on Earth. For decades, researchers testing rovers have accounted for that difference in gravity by creating a prototype that is a sixth of the mass of the actual rover. They test these lightweight rovers in deserts, observing how it moves across sand to gain insights into how it would perform on the moon.

It turns out, however, that this standard testing approach overlooked a seemingly inconsequential detail: the pull of Earth's gravity on the desert sand.

[–] SheeEttin@lemmy.zip 21 points 5 days ago (4 children)

It just goes to show you, you can have whole teams of NASA scientists on a project, but there's still going to be some factor they didn't think of when the rubber meets the road.

[–] Kraiden@kbin.earth 17 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Surely you mean 'when the zinc-coated steel meets the sand'

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 10 points 5 days ago (1 children)

It just goes to show you, you can have whole comment sections of Fediverse users on a post, but there's still going to be some factor they didn't think of when the rubber meets the road.

[–] stoy@lemmy.zip 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

*When the comment meets the feddiverse

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

No, I mean the rubber of the trolley to the launchpad, and don't call me Shirley.

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