Nasa is serious about establishing a long-term presence on the Moon even after the Artemis project has been delayed by a few years. The agency just dropped a hefty sum to fund the development of a Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV).
Think of it as the space-age equivalent of a 4X4, designed to help astronauts explore the lunar surface and conduct research as part of the ambitious Artemis programme.
Artist concept of Intuitive Machines’ Moon RACER lunar terrain vehicle. Image: Intuitive Machines/Nasa.
Who’s building the Lunar Terrain Vehicles?
The space agency reportedly aims to use vehicles as in an LTV as a service model from the industry partners. Thus, it means the LTVs can be used and deployed by other space agencies and commercial space operators post-development.
Artist concept of Venturi Astrolab’s FLEX lunar terrain vehicle. Image: Astrolab/Nasa.
Nasa’s lunar vehicle contract has a potential value of $4.6bn, with payments tied to project milestones.
Three companies have been tapped to spearhead the LTV project: Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab. Their job? To design a lunar vehicle capable of withstanding the Moon’s harsh conditions and giving astronauts unprecedented mobility for science and exploration.
Artist concept of Lunar Outpost’s Lunar Dawn lunar terrain vehicle. Image: Lunar Outpost/Nasa.
“We look forward to the development of the Artemis generation lunar exploration vehicle to help us advance what we learn at the Moon,” said Vanessa Wyche, director of Nasa’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
“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.”
Artemis V and beyond
Nasa aims to prepare this lunar ride for astronauts by the Artemis V mission. We’re talking advanced power management, autonomous driving, cutting-edge communication… the whole nine yards. These LTVs will let astronauts venture farther than they could ever travel on foot, ultimately leading to more groundbreaking discoveries.
Nasa will adopt a multiphase approach to developing a new LTV for its Artemis missions. Selected providers will first participate in a year-long feasibility study to design a system that aligns with Nasa’s requirements.
Next, Nasa will invite proposals for a demonstration mission where the LTV can be further developed, delivered to the Moon, and tested for performance and safety. Only one provider will likely be selected for this demonstration.
Finally, Nasa will continue procuring unpressurised rover capabilities from the chosen provider to support moonwalking and scientific exploration through 2039.
The LTV is being designed to tackle the extreme conditions of the Moon’s south pole. It will incorporate cutting-edge technology in power management, self-driving capabilities, and advanced communication and navigation systems.
Astronauts will use the LTV to explore, carry scientific equipment, and gather lunar surface samples. The LTV will empower them to cover significantly greater distances than they could on foot, greatly increasing the potential for scientific discovery.
Remote and commercial operations
When the astronauts aren’t around, Nasa can remotely operate the LTVs for science missions. When not actively engaged in Nasa activities, the vendor who provides the LTV will have the opportunity to use it for their commercial projects on the lunar surface.
“We will use the LTV to travel to locations we might not otherwise be able to reach on foot, increasing our ability to explore and make new scientific discoveries,” explained Jacob Bleacher, chief exploration scientist in the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at Nasa headquarters in Washington.
“With the Artemis crewed missions, and during remote operations when there is not a crew on the surface, we are enabling science and discovery on the Moon year-round.”
Nasa has outlined the technical specifications, performance capabilities, and essential safety standards for the LTV’s development and operation. The companies chosen to develop the LTV have committed to fulfilling these crucial requirements.
The contract proposal process mandated that each company offer a complete solution encompassing LTV development, lunar delivery, and the implementation of operations on the surface of the Moon.
The LTV is a key piece of the puzzle for Nasa’s Artemis missions. These vehicles will give astronauts more freedom to explore and learn about the Moon and lay the groundwork for future human missions to Mars.