NASA has taken a significant leap forward in its upcoming manned mission to the moon. After a rigorous selection process, the American space agency has chosen three finalists to create the next-generation lunar rover: Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab—all supported by renowned entities. In more than five decades, NASA is introducing its authentic space vehicle to aid the Artemis missions, a continuing series of crewed and uncrewed lunar expeditions that commenced with the Artemis I mission in 2022. The plan is to dispatch astronauts and their new vehicle to the moon by 2030.
The opportunity to construct America’s forthcoming Space Car captivated some unexpected entities. Even NASCAR attempted to seize an opportunity, collaborating with technology firm Leidos. The triumphant groups are equally remarkable. Venturi’s model is projected to offer speed: renowned for crafting extraordinary, high-performance electric vehicles, particularly credited for shaping the bodies of Formula E racing cars. Lunar Outpost has the support of GM and Goodyear, hinting at possible lunar drag racing events. Intuitive Machines’ central concept resembles “space-oriented Uber,” providing a ridesharing service that enables several private-sector clients to combine their payloads on the same launch vehicle.
The rover teams may not represent traditional government contractors, but the Lunar Transport Vehicle (LTV) stands out as a unique assignment. Following the conclusion of the Apollo missions, lunar rovers have primarily been autonomous—analogous to the Mars rovers—functioning as independent robotic sensor platforms that relay data back to Earth. NASA requires more. The LTV vision leans towards a highly resilient off-road vehicle, capable of maneuvering diverse terrains. It will include a level of autonomous driving—its extent contingent upon the designer—and serve as a mobile research station in addition to its transport function, empowering astronauts to embark on extended journeys and conduct more intricate assignments than ever before. The LTV will hold a crucial role in the Artemis missions until at least 2039.
Given that the only other manned rover was Apollo’s electric dune buggy, deployed on the moon’s surface in 1972, designers have an open canvas. They’ve taken grand initiatives. Venturi’s creation, FLEX—Flexible Logistics and Exploration—serves as a dual-purpose platform, combining autonomous scientific capabilities akin to the Mars rovers with the capacity to transport two astronauts. It retains Venturi’s distinctive touch; the bespoke batteries originate from Monaco, while the “hyper-deformable wheels” feature tensioned cables instead of traditional spokes to absorb lunar terrain impact.
The design by Lunar Outpost, dubbed “Lunar Dawn,” opts for a larger scale. Lunar Dawn embodies a robust four-wheel vehicle designed for utmost durability and minimal upkeep. Intuitive Machines has been vague about their blueprint. In 2023, the company unveiled intentions to land the Japanese unmanned rover Yaoki on the moon’s south pole; however, detailed specifics have not been disclosed yet, nor has there been any affirmation regarding Yaoki’s potential influence on the company’s design.
The development of the LTV is a considerable undertaking, financially incentivized. NASA anticipates allocating $4.6 billion to this endeavor. As per NASA’s request for proposals, the three finalists will undergo a year-long evaluation process, present a design for NASA’s endorsement, and conduct a comprehensive demonstration of their prototypes. Ultimately, NASA will grant a contract to a single company, although it anticipates issuing supplementary work orders to resolve potential obstacles throughout the development phase.
The finalists are assembling teams to commence work. As indicated in press releases, Lunar Outpost will collaborate with GM, Goodyear, Lockheed, and MDA Space to formulate their prototype. Intuitive Machines has announced a similar consortium of notable partners, including Boeing, Michelin, and Northrop Grumman. Venturi plans to engage with Axiom Space and Odyssey Space Research. Several of these partnering organizations possess extensive experience in aerospace engineering. Entities like Northrop Grumman have been integral to the U.S. space initiatives since their inception, while GM has been engaged in lunar rover deliberations for an extended period.
The Lunar Dawn rover is anticipated to join the Artemis V mission. While an exact launch date has not been confirmed, prior timelines for earlier Artemis missions suggest that Artemis V will take flight in the latter part of the 2020s.
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