NASA has selected three companies that are developing a lunar rover for astronauts.
Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost or Venturi Astrolab will be able to sign a contract with NASA for $4.6 billion. Each contract is valid for 13 years.
This is an important step for the exploration of the Moon, because the last rovers were used on it in the early 1970s. At the same time, man’s flights to the Moon ended.
The US government and NASA have decided to resume flights to the moon and explore the area using modern lunar rovers, which are most seen on machines in science fiction films.
Short description
Why does NASA need a lunar rover?
What is known about intuitive machines?
What is known about the Lunar Outpost
What is known about Venturi Astrolab
When will the rover appear on the moon?
Why does NASA need a lunar rover?
With the help of lunar rovers, NASA is going to explore the South Pole of the Moon. It is believed that there is frozen water in the area.
Each rover can fit the design, but all three must have room for two suited astronauts. In addition, the equipment must operate in extreme temperatures.
The Lunokhod should have robotic remote control capabilities.NASA has proposed conducting the study even when astronauts are not on the moon.
Although NASA has selected three companies, only one of them will be awarded the production and maintenance contract. In the coming year, the company will conduct a feasibility study on the development of a lunar lander, after which NASA will study the developments and select the winner.
The $4.6 billion contract runs until 2039. This cost includes the design, production, delivery of the rover to the Moon and its support for 10 years.
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What is known about intuitive machines?
Intuitive Machines is a private company that has already received $30 million from NASA to develop a lunar rover. This money is probably intended to finance the first stage.
In February 2024, Intuitive Machines made history as the world’s first private company whose Odyssey spacecraft reached the surface of the Moon. It was also the first spacecraft to successfully land on the Moon since the 1972 Apollo 17 mission.
The lunar rover will be developed by Intuitive Machines together with Boeing and Michelin. Boeing will appear behind the flight systems that will have to deliver the lunar rover to the Moon. Michelin develops wheels that can withstand temperatures from 100°C to -240°C.
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What is known about the Lunar Outpost
Lunar Outpost was founded in 2017. The company specializes in the production of robotics for working in extreme conditions on Earth and in space.
The rover is being developed by General Motors, which is developing the Ultium EV battery architecture as well as suspension developments. Tires for the lunar rover will be produced by Goodyear.
Lunar Outpost said its rover will be able to exceed NASA’s requirements. For example, it will be able to operate during two weeks of lunar nights at temperatures of -173°C.
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What is known about Venturi Astrolab
Venturi Astrolab is the head of the Monaco-based car manufacturer Venturi. This is a private auto company that produces electric vehicles, among other things. In particular, Venturi became the first company to take part in the Formula E World Championship.
Since 2022, the company has been actively developing lunar rovers and other spacecraft. His main invention is the Flex rover, which the Venturi Astrolaboratory plans to send to the Moon in 2026 on a SpaceX rocket.
Flex meets all of NASA’s requirements, so the company will not be developing a dedicated rover for an outside agency.
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When will the rover appear on the moon?
The Lunokhod is being prepared for the Artemis-5 mission, planned for 2028-2029. He must fly separately and wait for the astronauts. Therefore, NASA has less than 5 years left to create a lunar rover and send it to the Moon.
The Artemis program was launched in 2017. Its main goal is to explore the Moon and land people on the satellite.
As part of the Artemis-1 mission, a test unmanned flight to the Moon was successfully completed in 2022. The crew of Artemis 2 will make a manned flyby of the Moon in 2025, and the Artemis 3 astronaut mission will be the first people to walk on the Moon since 1972. The Artemis 3 mission is planned for 2026.
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Source: Iphones RU
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
