Posted 4/4/2024, 2:21:19 PM
NASA Taps 3 Companies to Design Durable Moon Rovers for Upcoming Artemis Missions
- NASA has selected 3 companies (Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, Venturi Astrolab) to design lunar rovers that can operate for a decade near the Moon's south pole
- The rovers need to handle harsh conditions like 500°F temperature swings and endure for 10 years, operating 365 days a year
- NASA plans to select 1 or more companies after the design phase to build demonstration rovers, with goal of having rovers ready by Artemis V mission in 2029
- Over 10 years, NASA may spend up to $4.6 billion on this rover service
- The rovers need 20+ km daily range to enable 8-hour Moonwalks for astronauts far from landing sites