NASA is developing a Lunar Terrain Vehicle for astronauts to drive on the Moon: Get all the details on the project
NASA is in the process of creating a lunar terrain vehicle (LTV) for Artemis astronauts to navigate the lunar south polar region. Three agencies have been chosen by the US Space Agency to collaborate on the development of the vehicle, including Intuitive Machines, which played a role in the recent landing of the Odysseus spacecraft on the Moon. This partnership aims to turn a high-tech vision into a reality. Learn more about the LTV.
NASA Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV)
According to a NASA blog and a shared YouTube video, the space agency has partnered with three companies to offer their advanced technology to develop the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV). Companies include Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost and Venturi Astrolab. The vehicle is said to offer astronauts a way to move around the Moon for scientific research. In addition, it also helps prepare human missions to Mars. The LTV will be used during the Artemis 5 mission, which is expected to launch in March 2030.
Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, said, “We look forward to the development of the next-generation Artemis lunar exploration vehicle, which will help us advance what we have learned on the Moon. This vehicle will greatly enhance our astronauts’ ability to explore and conduct science on the lunar surface while serving as a science platform between crew missions.” ” NASA also emphasized that the Moon vehicle development project could cost up to $4.6 billion. However, the costs are only based on the “indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity” principle.
The LTV is expected to help astronauts explore the Moon’s south pole, carry scientific instruments, and collect lunar surface samples for comprehensive research and study. Therefore, the vehicle is developed with advanced technology to operate in extreme conditions. NASA said the LTV “includes advanced technologies for power management, autonomous driving, and state-of-the-art communications and navigation systems.”
