Moon Express has set up a robotics lab for lunar probe named the
“Moon Express Robotics Lab for Innovation” (MERLIN) hiring some
engineering students who had successfully competed at the First
Robotics Competition. Moon Express, Inc. (MoonEx) is a privately
funded lunar transportation. and data services company.
Essentially, the lab will engage in developing robotics for the
moon mining and exploration. The new project MERLIN will develop
robotic technology supporting the company’s lunar exploration
missions. It will be headed by Marco Chacin, a Ph. D. graduate
of the International Space University. He has specialized in
Aerospace Engineering and developed robotic solutions for
Japan’s JAXA/ISAS “Hayabusa” asteroid sample return missions.
The engineering team hired by Moon Express was trained by the
NASA Ames Robotics Academy, where they developed lunar micro-
rover concepts. “MERLIN is formed around the best and most
accomplished young robotics engineers,” said company co-founder
and CEO Bob Richards. “FIRST