NASA is currently seeking next-gen Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) designs for future Artemis missions. The agency is aiming for an Apollo-inspired lunar vehicle combined with functions of a Mars-style uncrewed rover. It should support phases driven by astronauts and others as an unmanned mobile science exploration platform.
The selected design will enable engineers operate the LTV remotely to transport cargo and scientific payloads between crewed landing sites, while still allowing for additional science returns, resource prospecting, as well as lunar exploration. This means NASA will be able to expand scientific research opportunities on the Moon during uncrewed operations so scientists can investigate future surface mission locations. To achieve this, the LTV needs more shielding fore its more critical systems like advanced power management and protection from the extreme environment at the Lunar South Pole.
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We want to leverage industry’s knowledge and innovation, combined with NASA’s history of successfully operating rovers, to make the best possible surface rover for our astronaut crews and scientific researchers,” said Lara Kearney, manager of NASA’s Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility program at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
