"NASA's Lunar Missions: From Freezers to Homes, Crunch Time for Moon Living"
NASA has issued a request for designs of a "lunar freezer" that can safely store materials collected from the moon during its Artemis missions. The freezer will primarily be used to transport scientific and geological samples back to Earth, but it may also store human biological samples for analysis. The lunar freezer should be ready by the end of 2027 and must be able to withstand the physical forces encountered during launch and landing. It should have a cold interior volume of at least 10x10x26 inches, weigh less than 121 pounds, and maintain a temperature of minus 121 Fahrenheit for at least 30 days. The freezer should also have monitoring and control capabilities, internet connectivity, and the ability to record data about its own temperature and usage. The planned debut mission for the lunar freezer is Artemis 5, projected to launch in 2029.