13. Can I use my cane on the Moon? How would I keep my cane from floating away? (A K2S Question)

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Cane travel is an enormously effective means for independent mobility. It is a complex system that includes lots of physics describing the way objects behave on Earth. For example, one big assumption for cane travel is that objects are attached by some means to the ground. That means we don't have to worry about bumping our heads on a heavy box that is suspended in midair. We can use the cane to sweep the area in front of us at ground level, and be pretty sure that we are also clearing the area in front of our faces. In space, this and many other assumptions go out the window. A cane may not be as useful (or used in the same way) as it is on Earth. On the bright side, there is a lot of work going on to develop technologies which can enhance and possibly replace the long white cane. This has proven to be hard to do – on Earth no technology has been shown to be as effective as the cane. Research continues and technologies which are not as effective for travel on Earth may prove to be useful in space.

Answer provided by Mark A. Riccobono, Robert O. Shelton, Ph.D.


Image:K2S logosmall.jpg Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer


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