How long does it take to walk around the moon?

From our vantage point on Earth, we can see that the moon is quite small. But if you boarded a spaceship, put on a space suit and went on a epic moon hike, how long would it take you to walk all the way around it?

Twelve astronauts have already set foot on the Moon. The answer depends on a multitude of factors, including how fast you go, how long will you walk each day, and which detours you need to take to avoid dangerous terrain. Such a trip around the moon might take more than a year, but in reality, there are many challenges to overcome. According to NASA, a total of 12 people have ever set foot on the lunar surface, all of which were part of the Apollo missions from 1969 to 1972. Screened Earth footage shows walking around in the low-gravity region of the Moon, equal to 1/6 of the Earth’s gravity. However, research from NASA shows that humans can travel on the moon much faster than the astronauts aboard the Apollo. Theoretically, walking the circumference of the moon could be done faster than previously predicted. During Apollo missions, astronauts circled the surface at a normal speed of 1.4 miles per hour (2.2 km / h). This slow pace is mainly due to their bulky, pressurized space suit not designed for mobility. If moon hikers wore nicer sportswear, they might find it a lot easier to move. In 2014, a NASA study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology tested the speed at which people can walk and run in simulated lunar gravity. To do this, the team invited eight participants (3 of which are astronauts) to use the treadmill on the DC-9, which travels in a special parabolic trajectory on Earth to model it. simulates gravity on the moon for up to 20 seconds. This experiment showed that participants were able to walk up to 3.1 miles / hour (5 km / h) before starting to run. According to the researchers, this figure is not only more than twice the walking speed that the Apollo astronauts have, but also quite close to the average maximum walking speed of 4.5 mph (7.2 km / h) on Earth. The participants slowed this down because they could swing their arms freely, similar to the way humans run on Earth. The pendulum’s movement creates a downward force, which partially compensates for the lack of gravity. One of the reasons the Apollo astronauts move so slowly on the surface of the Moon is because they cannot do this correctly due to their tight suits. At this new hypothetical top speed, it would take about 91 days to walk 6,786 miles (10,921 km) of the moon. Meanwhile, it would take approximately 334 days to walk non-stop (i.e., don’t stop to sleep or eat) around Earth’s 24,901 miles (40,075 km) circumference at this rate, though it is impossible to do so. . Obviously, 91 days of continuous walking is not possible, so the actual hike around the moon will take longer. Walking around the moon poses a number of different challenges. “I think logically, that can be done,” said Aidan Cowley, a scientific advisor at the European Space Agency. But it will be a very strange task to assist. ” One of the biggest challenges is carrying supplies, such as water, food, and oxygen. “I don’t think you’ll bring them in a backpack,” said Cowley. “Because that would be too much mass even if you were at 1/6 gravity. Therefore, you would need to have a support vehicle with you. This vehicle could also act as a shelter. hidden. ” “A lot of agencies are looking at the concept of having a pressurized aircraft, which can assist astronauts when they are on expeditionary missions, like portable mini bases,” Cowley said. You can use it to go at night and resupply, then go back during the day and go around. ” Moon explorers will also need a space suit with a design that allows for optimal mobility. The current space suits have yet to be created for the purpose of over-maneuvering, Cowley said, but some agencies are developing suits that fit properly to walk on the moon. “The moon’s harsh topography will also make finding a suitable path around it quite complicated, especially with a meteor crater that can be several miles deep,” Cowley added. You really want to go around craters. This is too dangerous. ” In addition, you will also have to take into account the lighting and temperatures when planning your route. Because, at the equator of the moon and during the day, the temperature is about 100 degrees Celsius. And then at night the temperature drops to minus 180 degrees Celsius.