How to make a lunar surface and not die trying

As part as our preparation for the next FIDAE (FIDAE 2012 http://www.fidae.cl/portal_fidae.aspx), we prepare a "moon-like" surface to show our Dandelion rover (and the micro ones too) in our stand.

But first a couple of words about FIDAE: FIDAE is a Chilian event about air and space technologies, is the biggest aerospace event in Latin America and more than 70 countries participate showing top of the line technology. This year it run from March 27 to April 1, and after the appearance of the Angelicum Team on the big TV channels, we are on it!!

So, here is how we create a moon-like surface. To start we take the research of the UDEC guys about the moon rocks size and composite, then we ask to one of the R.E.A.L guys that live in "Chaiten", a place where a couple of years ago there was a big volcano eruption, so guest what!, there was there a lot of rock pretty much as the ones on the moon!.

Here some pictures...

So, we take a wood pallet (use it to move big loads) and tip over:

After replace nails for screws to allow an easy assembly/disassembly for transportation and some additional wood to make it stronger, we add some nice white cover...

Now the rocks...

We still need to add the fine particle layer (like ashes) that cover all rocks on the moon, but since we need to transport the whole thing from Puerto Montt to Santiago, we decide to keep just like this for now...

Here some pictures about how Dandelion and Micro-Dandelion looks on it:

Nice!!!, here a couple of videos..

That's it,our first lunar surface ready for FIDAE...