Despite NASA’s announcement of a one-year delay in the launch of the Artemis II and III missions, progress towards establishing a human presence on the Moon seems to be accelerating, with advancements evident across various systems, including rockets.
NASA revealed plans in 2020 for the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV), which would enable astronauts to travel farther on the lunar surface than they have in the past by supporting them on missions like Artemis V and beyond.
Initially, the Boeing-manufactured Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) was utilized during the Apollo program, starting with the 15th mission, allowing astronauts to cover distances exceeding 22 miles (35 km) within an area of 4.7 miles (7.6 km) around the landing site.
While not groundbreaking by today’s standards, this represented a significant improvement over earlier Apollo missions, during which crews could only traverse half a mile during a 20-hour lunar stay.
Although crew-rated vehicles will not be provided for Artemis III and IV, subsequent missions will benefit from the LTV. In 2020, NASA issued Requests for Information (RFI) soliciting assistance in designing the next generation of robotic mobility systems and human-class lunar rovers, with the LTV being part of this initiative.
Now, four years later, slightly delayed from the anticipated schedule (contract award expected in November 2023), the announcement of the company or companies tasked with producing the rover is imminent, scheduled for April 3, as confirmed by NASA this week, marking the commencement of critical work on what could be the most significant extraterrestrial vehicle ever developed.
While not officially confirmed, numerous companies have expressed interest in producing the vehicle since 2020, with many forming partnerships for this ambitious endeavor. Partnerships include Lockheed Martin and General Motors, combining automotive expertise with space knowledge, as well as Teledyne, Nissan, and Sierra Space.
Northrop Grumman, AVL, Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Michelin are collaborating independently alongside unexpected partnerships such as Leidos and NASCAR.
While specific details of the vehicle remain undisclosed beyond what NASA has shared publicly, it is confirmed that the rover must accommodate a two-person crew and cargo, potentially including scientific instruments and technology demonstration payloads, with a capacity of up to 500 kg (1,100 pounds), including astronauts.
Equipped with headlights, a navigation console, and communication equipment, the rover’s powertrain remains unspecified, though NASA mandates it be electric, rechargeable from internal power sources, and other lunar assets due to the absence of plugs on the Moon.
No speed or range specifications are currently available, and surface capabilities are limited to a requirement of traversing slopes of at least 15 degrees, with all components designed to withstand the Moon’s harsh temperatures ranging from 280 to minus 280 degrees Fahrenheit (138 to minus 173 degrees Celsius).
To ensure widespread awareness, NASA will host a televised press conference on April 3 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, providing live coverage on the NASA+ website, NASA television, the NASA app, and the agency’s official website.
