Nazca on the Moon

Art Project 2036 — Technical Feasibility Study
CNSA Rover Fleet Analysis  |  July 2026

1. Project Overview

The Nazca on the Moon project proposes drawing a stylized ape figure on the lunar surface using light-colored highland regolith deposited onto the dark basaltic maria, mirroring the technique used by the Nazca people in the Peruvian desert (ca. 500 BCE – 500 CE).
This study analyzes two scenarios:

1. Image-Scale Ape (389 km tall) — As depicted in the uploaded concept image; visible from Earth with the naked eye; requires planetary-scale logistics.
2. Original-Scale Ape (100 m long) — True Nazca-monkey dimensions; visible only from lunar orbit or surface; feasible with a small rover fleet.

Key Assumptions

• Lunar regolith density: 1,500 kg/m³
• Nazca line width ratio: 0.5% of figure height
• Material layer depth: 0.15 m
• Highland source distance: 300 m (Mare Tranquillitatis edge)

• Lunar day/night cycle: 29.53 Earth days
• Work hours per lunar day: 10–14 h
• Moon diameter: 3,474 km
• Rover class: Yutu-2 derived hauler

2. Image Analysis & Scale Determination

The uploaded image (nazcs_moon_3 (kopija).jpg) was analyzed via pixel-level measurement of the stylized ape silhouette against the lunar disk.

ParameterImage (pixels)RatioPhysical
Moon diameter2,012 px—3,474 km
Ape height197 px9.79%389 km
Ape width101 px5.02%174 km
Line width~50 px2.5%~1.95 km

Visibility: A 389 km feature is ~11% of the Moon's diameter. The smallest naked-eye lunar features visible from Earth are ~1–2 km under ideal conditions. This ape would be easily visible to the unaided eye.

3. Scenario 1: Image-Scale Ape (389 km)

Material Requirements
Volume: 3,100 km × 1.95 km × 0.15 m = 906,750,000 m³
Mass: 906,750,000 m³ × 1,500 kg/m³ = 1,360,125,000 metric tons
Equivalent to a small mountain range of light highland regolith.

Rover Productivity Model
A hypothetical "Yutu-class hauler" is modeled, extrapolating from CNSA's Yutu-2 rover (140 kg, 200 m/h top speed) to a cargo-optimized variant operating in 1/6 g.

• Conservative: 3,000 tons / rover / 100 years
• Optimistic: 10,000 tons / rover / 100 years

Rover Fleet Required

TimelineConservativeOptimistic
100 years~454,000 rovers~136,000 rovers
200 years~227,000 rovers~68,000 rovers

Not Feasible This is a planetary-scale megaproject. Even with 200 years and optimistic productivity, ~68,000 rovers exceed any conceivable 2036-era logistics. The project only becomes practical if scaled down to ~10 km or smaller.

4. Scenario 2: Original-Scale Ape (100 m)

Material Requirements
Figure length: 100 m (true Nazca monkey scale)  |  Line width: 0.5 m  |  Depth: 0.15 m
Total line length: ~1,000 m  |  Volume: 75 m³  |  Mass: 112.5 metric tons

Location & Logistics
Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility) — Highland source at the Apennine foothills, only 300 m away. The short one-way haul is the key enabler.
Fleet: 3 CNSA-class hauler rovers working in parallel.

Round-Trip Breakdown (Moderate Scenario)

PhaseTime
Empty to highlands (300 m)1.5 h
Collect / scoop material0.75 h
Loaded back to mare (300 m)2.5 h
Deposit & pattern the line0.75 h
Total per trip5.5 h

Time to Complete

ScenarioPayloadTrips / RoverEarth Years
Conservative200 kg188~11.8 years
Moderate300 kg125~4.6 years
Optimistic400 kg94~2.3 years

Feasible With the highlands only 300 m away, the short haul distance makes this project highly feasible. The moderate scenario (~4.6 years with 3 rovers) is realistic for a 2036-era CNSA lunar base infrastructure project.

5. Comparative Summary

Image-Scale Ape (389 km)
Material: 1.36 billion metric tons
Rovers (100 yr, cons.): ~454,000
Rovers (100 yr, opt.): ~136,000
Not Feasible by 2036

Original-Scale Ape (100 m)
Material: 112.5 metric tons
Rovers: 3 CNSA-class haulers
Time (moderate): ~4.6 years
Time (optimistic): ~2.3 years
Feasible

Key Insight
The difference between the two scenarios is a factor of ~12 million in mass. Scaling down from the image's artistic vision to the actual Nazca dimensions transforms an impossible megaproject into an achievable mission.

Recommendation
For a 2036 launch window, the original-scale (100 m) ape in Mare Tranquillitatis is the only viable option. It requires only 3 rovers, ~113 tons of regolith, and 2–5 years of operation — well within CNSA's demonstrated capabilities.

6. Technical Notes & References

Data Sources

• CNSA Yutu-2 rover specifications (140 kg, 200 m/h max speed)
• Lunar regolith density: 1,500 kg/m³ (Apollo sample analysis)
• Nazca line dimensions: UNESCO World Heritage documentation
• Lunar day/night cycle: 29.53 Earth days (synodic month)
• Moon diameter: 3,474 km (IAU standard)

Methodology

• Image scale measured via pixel analysis of uploaded concept art
• Material volume = line_length × line_width × layer_depth
• Rover productivity = payload × trips_per_lunar_day × work_days
• Lunar night downtime factored into all timelines

Assumptions

• Hauler rovers are Yutu-class chassis modified for cargo (not science)
• Highland regolith is sufficiently lighter than mare basalt for contrast
• Rovers can operate autonomously during lunar day without human intervention
• Power supplied via RTGs or beamed power
• No significant terrain obstacles between highlands and mare (300 m)

Limitations

• Actual CNSA rover payload capacity for hauling is not publicly documented; values are extrapolated from Yutu-2 mobility specs in 1/6 g
• Regolith collection rate depends on scoop mechanism (not yet flown on CNSA rovers)
• Pattern accuracy for artistic deposition requires advanced autonomy
• Long-term dust abrasion and thermal cycling will affect rover lifespan

Prepared for the Nazca on the Moon Art Project, 2036
Analysis generated: July 2026