Project Hive robots are currently en route to the Moon, unearthing minirobots on the lunar surface. This will be the headline of a report that highlights the work of an astroarchaeologist who discovers vestiges of the Anthropocene linked to Space 4.0, the current era. The research reveals that these technological devices are of Mexican origin, marking Earth's first foray into interplanetary microrobotics.
The remains belong to the Hive mission, which consists of five lightweight, inexpensive mini-robots with self-organizing abilities. In addition to the minirobots, the package includes their packaging and the communications center that transported them to the Moon, both developed at the Institute of Nuclear Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), specifically in LINX, the first Mexican laboratory in sending national systems into space.
In the year 2024, this complete set has spent months passing a series of tests before embarking on a 384,400 kilometer journey aboard the Peregrine lander, powered by the Vulcan Centaur rocket from the American company Astrobotic.
What is the method of travel of the Hive robots to the Moon?
Peregrine moves toward the Moon using five main engines to adjust its course, correct its trajectory, enter lunar orbit and land; In addition, it has four sets of thrusters to maintain its orientation. This lunar cruise company offers the opportunity to transport scientific instruments, brand advertising, data, satellites, works of art and even personal souvenirs to the Moon.
LINX stands out in several aspects. In 2021, it launched the first completely Mexican satellite from India. In addition, it has collaborated on joint projects with the French Space Agency, including the Mini-Euso, a miniature version of the Euso-SPB ultraviolet camera, which was sent to the International Space Station in 2019 to measure ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. that enter the Earth's atmosphere. In this project, the Mexican team distinguished itself with its first miniaturized maintenance system. The goal is for Mexico to be a relevant actor in outer space and participate with initiatives that have applications and a strategic vision of future needs.
In the Colmena project, around 200 students from various disciplines such as engineering, physics, actuarial science, mathematics, geology and design, among others, have collaborated for almost four years. Gustavo Medina Tanco, head of the laboratory, points out that the creation of robots is essential to explore outer space, given humanity's limited capacity to inhabit such an environment.