Posts: 52174 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-06-2020 08:58 AM
Please use this topic to discuss NASA's request and the responses by industry for a human-class lunar rover to be used on Artemis missions.
p51 Member
Posts: 1784 From: Olympia, WA Registered: Sep 2011
posted 05-26-2021 04:00 PM
I've always wondered about the sanity of a rover that can go much further than an astronaut can walk back to the lander if something goes wrong and still survive.
Delta7 Member
Posts: 1751 From: Bluffton IN USA Registered: Oct 2007
posted 05-26-2021 04:44 PM
I assume there will be something to enable the astronauts to get back to the lander if the rover breaks down or gets stuck.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52174 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-26-2021 04:56 PM
NASA specified a 3-mile (5-km) walk back limit to the landing site in the briefings (see page 40) it provided potential Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) developers.
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3702 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 05-27-2021 08:58 AM
quote:Originally posted by p51: ...further than an astronaut can walk back to the lander
You can't walk back if your engine fails halfway across the Atlantic. Nor can you walk back if your LM ascent stage engine (or your SpaceX Starship engines) fail on the Moon. It hasn't stopped people exploring.
In time, it would make sense to establish semi-permanent caches of oxygen and cooling/drinking water at strategic locations to allow longer rover excursions, but at some point you have to remove the training wheels from the bicycle.
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 1363 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 11-17-2021 03:47 PM
Isn't Toyota developing a "rover" for the lunar surface for the Japanese participation in Artemis?
Paul78zephyr Member
Posts: 809 From: Hudson, MA Registered: Jul 2005
posted 11-27-2021 09:58 PM
In addition to the proven expertise brought by the teammates, Northrop Grumman has engaged Apollo astronauts Dr. Harrison (Jack) Schmitt and Charles Duke...
I'm surprised that they haven't engaged with the only living person that actually drove an LRV on the moon.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52174 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-28-2021 11:12 AM
David Scott may have been approached and declined to participate. Or perhaps he is already working with one of the other teams.
quote:Originally posted by SkyMan1958: Isn't Toyota developing a "rover" for the lunar surface for the Japanese participation in Artemis?
Japan's participation in Artemis is centered on contributions to the Gateway. The Lunar Cruiser is a joint research study between JAXA, Toyota, TOMY, Sony and Doshisha University for a possible flight to the moon by Japan's own ispace, inc. At present, it is not part of NASA's Artemis' plans.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52174 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-03-2024 02:56 PM
NASA release
NASA to Select Lunar Terrain Vehicle for Artemis Missions
NASA will host a news conference to announce the company, or companies, selected to move forward in developing the LTV (Lunar Terrain Vehicle), which will help Artemis astronauts explore more of the Moon's surface on future missions. The televised event will take place at 4 p.m. EDT (3 p.m. CDT), Wednesday, April 3, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The news conference will air live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website.
Event participants will include:
Vanessa Wyche, director, NASA Johnson
Jacob Bleacher, chief exploration scientist, NASA Headquarters
Lara Kearney, manager, Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program, NASA Johnson
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52174 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-03-2024 03:07 PM
Three companies have been selected to develop a lunar terrain vehicle for the Artemis program:
NASA describes the LTV as a "hybrid of the Apollo-style lunar rover that was driven by our astronauts and an uncrewed mobile science platform."
The agency will issue a subsequent request for task order proposal to eligible provider(s) for a demonstration mission to continue developing the LTV, deliver it to the surface of the Moon, and validate its performance and safety ahead of Artemis V. NASA anticipates making an award to only one provider for the demonstration. NASA will issue additional task orders to provide unpressurized rover capabilities for the agency's moonwalking and scientific exploration needs through 2039.