The NASA has awarded a contract for Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services (LTVS) to the Lunar Dawn team, led by Lunar Outpost as the prime contractor, along with its lead partner Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), and its teammates General Motors (GM), The Goodyear Tire, and MDA Space.
The diverse team combines proven heritage in robotic and human space exploration, cutting-edge technology, and strengths from the automotive industry to create a true off-road vehicle for living and working on the lunar surface.
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The Mission
This next generation of the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) will enable unprecedented surface exploration of the Moon as part of NASA’s Artemis campaign. It will dramatically extend the reach that astronauts can travel from their landing sites while conducting high-priority scientific investigations on the Moon. When not in use by NASA, the LTV will provide commercial services, contributing to a more accessible and sustainable cislunar economy.
“Surface mobility is a critical capability for humanity’s future in space, and Lunar Outpost looks forward to generating value in the cislunar economy by providing a reliable, safe, and capable vehicle that will be used to provide mobility to Artemis astronauts and autonomously conduct critical missions on the Moon for commercial ventures,” said Lunar Outpost CEO, Justino Ciro. “We are excited to leverage the strengths of Lockheed Martin, a company with extensive experience in human and advanced space systems, and our other industry teammates, GM, Goodyear, and MDA Space, to deliver an unparalleled technical offering at a commercially viable price.”
The Vehicle
The Lunar Dawn LTV will provide Artemis astronauts with an exceptional experience rooted in safety and convenience, including a flight deck design that provides expansive views for navigating the challenging lunar environment.
“These unique technologies will enable the future critical infrastructure necessary for a sustainable presence in space, where humans can live, work away from Earth,” said Kirk Shireman, Vice President of Lunar Exploration Campaigns at Lockheed Martin. “Lockheed Martin is excited to combine expertise with a diverse set of companies to embark on this next-generation rover that will expand exploration and our understanding of the lunar surface.”
The Lunar Dawn team’s vehicle exceeds all requirements set by NASA and has been designed with mission growth capability in mind. Several of the vehicle’s capabilities and features include:
Advanced autonomous navigation and operation, with or without astronauts on board.
Resources for robust and diverse commercial use, including a reconfigurable cargo bed that allows for payload swapping with its robust robotic arm.
The ability to not only survive but operate during the two-week lunar nights with temperatures down to -280 degrees Fahrenheit; This new technology extends mission life from days to many years.
Source: Lockheed Martin – This content was created with the assistance of AI
