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NASA's next generation of small, smart, versatile robotic landers (pictures)

Free-flying robotic lander successfully demonstrates NASA's advanced automated rendezvous and capture technology.

James Martin
James Martin is the Managing Editor of Photography at CNET. His photos capture technology's impact on society - from the widening wealth gap in San Francisco, to the European refugee crisis and Rwanda's efforts to improve health care. From the technology pioneers of Google and Facebook, photographing Apple's Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sundar Pichai, to the most groundbreaking launches at Apple and NASA, his is a dream job for any documentary photography and journalist with a love for technology. Exhibited widely, syndicated and reprinted thousands of times over the years, James follows the people and places behind the technology changing our world, bringing their stories and ideas to life.
James Martin
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1 of 5 NASA/David Higginbotham

Mighty Eagle robotic lander prototype

NASA says Mighty Eagle's guidance, navigation and control software could aid in the capture of orbiting space debris, in-space docking with a fuel depot, docking of a robotic lander with an orbiting command module, and the rendezvous of multiple unmanned stages for deep space human exploration of the solar system.
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2 of 5 NASA/MSFC/Fred Deaton

Engineers perpare 'Mighty Eagle' for flight

Marshall Center engineers Logan Kennedy, right, and Adam Lacock check out the lander prototype, dubbed the Mighty Eagle.
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3 of 5 NASA/MSFC/Fred Deaton

Flight tests at Marshall Space Flight Center

The Mighty Eagle robotic prototype lander is being tested near historic Saturn-IC Static and F-1 test stands at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
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4 of 5 NASA/MSFC

Mighty Eagle floats in first successful untethered flight

After undergoing significant upgrades to the guidance controls on the lander's camera, furthering its autonomous capabilities, the Mighty Eagle a NASA robotic prototype lander, had a successful first untethered flight this week at the Marshall Center. During the 34-second flight, Mighty Eagle soared and hovered at 30 feet, moved sideways, looked for its target, and safely landed on the launchpad.
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5 of 5 NASA/MSFC

Fuel

The three-legged "green" lander is fueled by 90 percent pure hydrogen peroxide and receives its commands from an onboard computer that activates its onboard thrusters to carry it to a controlled landing.

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