NASA Selected Three Companies To Develop The Future Lunar Terrain Vehicle

On April 3, during a press conference, NASA unveiled the three projects selected to advance the development of the rover for the Artemis program. Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab have been awarded by the agency a contract to complete the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) Services Feasibility Assessment.

*Artistic concept of the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV). Credits: NASA*

In the subsequent phase, NASA will award long-term, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity LTV Services contracts to one or more companies, with a potential value of $4.6 billion. The eligible provider(s) will have to conduct a demonstration mission ahead of Artemis V.

The development of one or more efficient systems for the movement of astronauts is essential for long-term human exploration of the Moon.

“This vehicle will greatly increase our astronauts’ ability to explore and conduct science on the lunar surface while also serving as a science platform between crewed missions.”
— Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston

RACER

Intuitive Machine was awarded $30 million to produce a feasibility roadmap to develop an LTV rover and deploy it on the Moon using its future Nova-D lunar lander. The US company is developing the Moon Reusable Autonomous Crewed Exploration Rover (RACER), in partnership with Northrop Grumman, Michelin, Boeing, and AVL.

The Austrian company AVL will bring its experience in the development and simulation of vehicle systems to the project. In particular, it will develop the transmission, steering, and suspension systems. Michelin, after having already collaborated with NASA, will design wheels capable of operating at temperatures above 100°C and below -240°C, and capable of resisting the corrosion of lunar regolith.

Boeing and Northrop Grumman will contribute their extensive experience in the development of spacecraft and infrastructure. Last month, Northrop announced the development of a Lunar Railroad under the Luna-10 DARPA-funded Capability Study.

On Feb. 2024, Intuitive Machine soft-landed its Odysseus Nova-C lander on the lunar surface, returning the US to the Moon 52 years after the last Apollo mission.

FLEX

Astrolab has been awarded a $1.9 million contract by NASA to develop its Flexible Logistic and Exploration (FLEX) rover as part of the LTV project. FLEX is designed in collaboration with Axiom Space and Odyssey Space Research.

“We look forward to offering our expertise in the design of vehicle interfaces for both the crew and spacesuits, ensuring astronaut safety and mobility on the surface of the Moon. This partnership showcases a collective commitment to pushing boundaries and driving advancements in space exploration.”
— Russell Ralston, Vice President of EVA, Axiom Space

Astrolab’s rover was first revealed to the public in 2022. The team also tested a full-scale, fully-functional prototype of FLEX in the California desert. Retired NASA astronaut Chris Hadfield has participated in the test campaign, that included crewed and telerobotic operations, a deployment of a variety of large payloads, and engineering testing of the rover’s mobility performance in challenging terrain.

Astrolab FLEX Rover during a field test near Death Valley, California. Credits: Astrolab — *Astrolab FLEX Rover in 2022 during a field test near Death Valley, California. Credits: Astrolab*

With a maximum combined rover and cargo mass of two tons, FLEX can accommodate two astronauts and a robotic arm. It can be operated both by astronauts or remotely from Earth.

Lunar Dawn

The third project awarded by NASA is that of the Lunar Dawn Team, led by the Lunar Outpost company, in partnership with Lockheed Martin, General Motors, Goodyear, and MDA Space.

Lockheed Martin brings decades of expertise in delivering complex deep space vehicles, which includes navigating the complexities associated with human spaceflight programs such as Orion. General Motors’ experience on lunar surface mobility goes back to their contributions to the wheels, motor, and suspension of NASA’s Lunar Roving Vehicle during the Apollo Program.

The Lunar Dawn LTV will allow Artemis astronauts an unparalleled experience prioritizing safety and convenience. Its flight deck-forward design offers expansive views, facilitating navigation through the challenging lunar environment. The vehicle will feature advanced autonomous navigation capabilities, a reconfigurable cargo bed, and a robust robotic arm. According to the company, Lunar Dawn LTV will be able to operate during the two-week-long lunar nights, extending its mission life for years.

Lunar Outpost is at the forefront of developing vehicles and robotic technologies for space exploration. The company is currently working on a series of MAPP-class robots and HIPPO, a large-scale robot designed for extracting space resources.