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NASA Wants to Rent Other People's Moon Rovers, Not Actually Own Them

The Artemis Moon program is without a doubt the most complex space exploration endeavor ever undertaken by the human race. That's not only because of the type of hardware being used, but also because, for the first time ever, private companies will be actively involved with their own pieces of hardware.
Lunar Terrain Vehicle rendering 27 photos
Photo: NASA
Nissan Lunar Rover Concept JAXANissan Lunar Rover Concept JAXANissan Lunar Rover Concept JAXANissan Lunar Rover Concept JAXANorthrop Grumman-led team will provide NASA with an affordable and sustainable vehicle design that will expand human and robotic exploration of the lunar surfaceNorthrop Grumman-led team will provide NASA with an affordable and sustainable vehicle design that will expand human and robotic exploration of the lunar surfaceNorthrop Grumman-led team will provide NASA with an affordable and sustainable vehicle design that will expand human and robotic exploration of the lunar surfaceNorthrop Grumman-led team will provide NASA with an affordable and sustainable vehicle design that will expand human and robotic exploration of the lunar surfaceNorthrop Grumman-led team will provide NASA with an affordable and sustainable vehicle design that will expand human and robotic exploration of the lunar surfaceSkoda Enyaq-inspired Moon roverSkoda Enyaq-inspired Moon roverSkoda Enyaq-inspired Moon roverXtend Design reveals Skoda Enyaq-inspired Moon roverLunar Roving VehicleLunar Roving VehicleLunar Roving VehicleLunar Roving VehicleLunar Roving VehicleArtemis LTVArtemis LTVArtemis LTVLunar Roving VehicleLunar Roving VehicleLunar Roving VehicleLunar Roving VehicleLunar Roving Vehicle
The immediate goal of Artemis is to land human crews on the Moon over the next seven years. That involves a lot of impressive pieces of hardware, including the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the Orion capsule, or the Starship Human Landing System lander that will deliver the most diverse human crew ever to the surface of the satellite.

But the ultimate goal of the Artemis program is to establish more or less of a constant human presence on and around the Moon. For orbital operations, a space station called Gateway is being planned. As far as surface ops logistics are concerned, we don't know all that much yet, but we do know any successful human presence there will require a means of transportation.

Back in the days of the Apollo program, that means of transportation was called the Lunar Roving Vehicle. It was a Boeing-made wheeled vehicle which started being used with the Apollo 15 mission. It helped astronauts significantly increase the size of the terrain they could cover during a single outing, from about half a mile (0.8 km) in 20 hours of moonwalks to 22 miles (35 km).

Something similar should happen with the Artemis program as well. The first mission to land on the Moon, Artemis III, but also the subsequent Artemis IV, will not rely on a rover for crew transport. Artemis V, however, the mission described by NASA as the one to make the transition from demonstrating initial lunar exploration capabilities to recurring complex missions, will.

The new rover is now called Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV), and the initial request for information regarding it was made in 2020.

Northrop Grumman\-led team will provide NASA with an affordable and sustainable vehicle design that will expand human and robotic exploration of the lunar surface
Photo: Northrop Grumman/YouTube
The LTV is to be a cross of sorts between the Apollo lunar rover and an uncrewed machine. We knew ever since 2020 the rover should be capable of transporting two fully-suited astronauts. Aside from the wheels and powerplant that will allow it to do that, it'll have to be equipped with a robotic arm or some other mechanism "to support science exploration." Autonomous and remote operations capabilities will also have to be included in the build.

Because it will be meant to operate in extreme environments (temperatures on the Moon range from 280 to minus 280 degrees Fahrenheit/138 to minus 173 degrees Celsius), the LTV will have to feature "advanced power management, semi-autonomous driving, state-of-the-art communication and navigation systems, and protection from the extreme environment."

Two equipment racks (one at the front and the other at the rear), headlights, and a large suite of sensors and cameras are also required.

As far as capabilities go, the rover is expected to carry up to 500 kg (1,100 pounds) of cargo, astronauts included. Its drivetrain will of course need to be electric, and potent enough to move over the rough lunar terrain, even at slopes of at least 15 degrees,

The battery of the rover will have to be chargeable from both internal and external power sources, meaning anything from the lander that brought it to the surface to solar arrays fitted on the rover itself.

Skoda Enyaq\-inspired Moon rover
Photo: Xtend Design
Now, all of the above pretty much makes it clear what NASA expects from the rover. We also know the space agency wants no role in the actual design and build of the LTV, leaving all that up to private companies. And, at the end of last week, NASA also said it doesn't even want to own the thing, but would rather use it as a paid service. Renting it, if you will.

NASA said on Friday it will "contract LTV as a service from industry rather than owning the rover" and issued a Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services request for proposals from industry partners.

As per the request, those interested in making a lunar rover and renting it to NASA will have to come up with rates for end-to-end services, meaning from the development of the LTV to running operations on the lunar surface. Proposals are being received by July 10, with the winner of the LTV services contract expected to be announced in November this year.

As said, NASA plans to use the rover for the first time during the Artemis V mission, which is scheduled to leave our planet in 2029.

Yet before we get to see the astronauts of this mission arriving on the Moon and driving around in their brand new rover, the machine will of course have to be tested by its maker up there on the Moon and cleared by NASA.

That means the rover will likely already be on site when Artemis V reaches the Moon, and in the meantime it will be used for both uncrewed and commercial activities.
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Editor's note: Gallery also shows the Apollo rover and other concepts.

About the author: Daniel Patrascu
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Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
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