NASA Taps 3 Companies to Design $4.6 Billion Next-Gen Moon Rover for 2029 Artemis Mission
• NASA has awarded 3 companies - Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab - contracts to design a next-generation moon rover called the lunar terrain vehicle (LTV)
• The companies will spend 12 months developing designs, after which NASA will select 1 company to build a prototype LTV
• The LTV must be rugged enough to explore the lunar south pole, drive 2 astronauts, and have a 10-year lifespan
• The final LTV will launch before the Artemis V mission in 2029 to enable astronauts to explore more of the moon's surface
• In total, the LTV contract from NASA over 13 years could be worth up to $4.6 billion across various task orders