NASA tested Honda CT90 as moon bike (semi-related to RE5)
Jan 23, 2021 18:18:54 GMT -5
SuzukiRE5 and Ramblin' Russ like this
Post by spacewriter on Jan 23, 2021 18:18:54 GMT -5
Hi all,
New to the forum, thanks for having me! I am a freelance reporter currently writing a series on the many connections between the motorcycling community and space industry, to be published in the near future on a popular space news website. I joined this forum looking for info on the RE5 advertising campaign with Ed Mitchell, but a moderator suggested I share a specific piece of non-RE5 trivia in the meantime.
NASA, in addition to landing on the moon in 1969, was busy developing lunar surface transportation for future missions (Apollo 15-17 and the cancelled missions). The lunar rover, or "moon buggy," was ultimately chosen, but NASA put equal effort into developing and testing a prototype for an electric lunar motorbike. Yup - a moon motorcycle!
The rover won because 1) it was developed faster, and 2) moon bikes couldn't account for transporting incapacitated crew mates.
NASA in 2020 released a paper saying it is considering using several two-seater ATVs for the 2024 Artemis moon missions because it's the perfect balance — it has extra seats for incapacitated crew, and more than one vehicle also allows for breakdowns (repairs can be made cannibalizing parts from extra vehicles).
I've attached three pictures of the initial tests at NASA where they actually went out and bought a new summer yellow 1969 Honda CT-90. I believe the third picture shows the electric battery additions to the CT-90, as combustion motors won't work on the moon. Later tests used a harness that lifted all but one-sixth of the rider and bike's weight to simulate the moon's gravity, which means you would have to lean into a turn six times as far.
After these initial tests, NASA built a new prototype that accounted for several issues regarding the CT-90's compatibility with astronaut suits and other cosmic considerations. Some neat additions included a grip-free throttle and a shell of beeswax around the engine for cooling. All of that info on the prototype, including its engine, can be found here in this May 1972 article from American Motorcyclist Association News. NASA also recently released a photo of the prototype being tested on the KC-135 "Vomit Comet," the specialized plane that simulates microgravity during free falls, evidence that the lunar bike concept made it pretty far down the pipeline.
I am working on hopefully tracking down where the CT-90 ended up.
Anyway, all of this info and much, much more will eventually come out in an article series I'm writing. I'll definitely post it here once it's published. In the meantime, I'm happy to post more content like this if everyone is interested, though again it might not be about the RE5.
I encourage anyone to message me or post in this thread regarding any other info on space industry and motorcycling connections, including Ed Mitchell and the RE5 ad campaign.
Thanks again!
New to the forum, thanks for having me! I am a freelance reporter currently writing a series on the many connections between the motorcycling community and space industry, to be published in the near future on a popular space news website. I joined this forum looking for info on the RE5 advertising campaign with Ed Mitchell, but a moderator suggested I share a specific piece of non-RE5 trivia in the meantime.
NASA, in addition to landing on the moon in 1969, was busy developing lunar surface transportation for future missions (Apollo 15-17 and the cancelled missions). The lunar rover, or "moon buggy," was ultimately chosen, but NASA put equal effort into developing and testing a prototype for an electric lunar motorbike. Yup - a moon motorcycle!
The rover won because 1) it was developed faster, and 2) moon bikes couldn't account for transporting incapacitated crew mates.
NASA in 2020 released a paper saying it is considering using several two-seater ATVs for the 2024 Artemis moon missions because it's the perfect balance — it has extra seats for incapacitated crew, and more than one vehicle also allows for breakdowns (repairs can be made cannibalizing parts from extra vehicles).
I've attached three pictures of the initial tests at NASA where they actually went out and bought a new summer yellow 1969 Honda CT-90. I believe the third picture shows the electric battery additions to the CT-90, as combustion motors won't work on the moon. Later tests used a harness that lifted all but one-sixth of the rider and bike's weight to simulate the moon's gravity, which means you would have to lean into a turn six times as far.
After these initial tests, NASA built a new prototype that accounted for several issues regarding the CT-90's compatibility with astronaut suits and other cosmic considerations. Some neat additions included a grip-free throttle and a shell of beeswax around the engine for cooling. All of that info on the prototype, including its engine, can be found here in this May 1972 article from American Motorcyclist Association News. NASA also recently released a photo of the prototype being tested on the KC-135 "Vomit Comet," the specialized plane that simulates microgravity during free falls, evidence that the lunar bike concept made it pretty far down the pipeline.
I am working on hopefully tracking down where the CT-90 ended up.
Anyway, all of this info and much, much more will eventually come out in an article series I'm writing. I'll definitely post it here once it's published. In the meantime, I'm happy to post more content like this if everyone is interested, though again it might not be about the RE5.
I encourage anyone to message me or post in this thread regarding any other info on space industry and motorcycling connections, including Ed Mitchell and the RE5 ad campaign.
Thanks again!
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