NASA demonstrates autonomous landing system for Moon and Mars missions
SPLICE payload tested on drone, paving way for precision landings
NASA has successfully demonstrated a guidance system designed to allow spacecraft to autonomously navigate to safe landing sites on the Moon and other planets, the agency announced. An Alta-X drone equipped with the Safe and Precise Landing, Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) payload completed simulated lunar descent and landing maneuvers on August 27 at Rogers Dry Lake near NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.