Soon, the world will see a car rolling on the moon’s surface. Japan has recently announced that it will design, develop, and operate a rover for NASA’s Artemis program. This is a major development in lunar exploration, as it will allow astronauts to travel the length and breadth of the moon, no more limiting research due to restrictions in mobility.
Since 2019, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA) and Toyota have been building research on this pressurized rover, nicknamed the “Lunar Cruiser“.The name is a reference to Toyota’s Land Cruiser SUV, renowned for the image of durability and reliability it has earned over the years The agreement between JAXA and Toyota was signed on June 13, 2019. The expected launch date has been estimated to be in the latter years of 2020.
The rover will support both crewed and uncrewed missions to the moon. It will be launched for the first time during the Artemis VII mission. The mobile laboratory will be an interesting opportunity for researchers to analyze the lunar environment from the safety of their vehicle for extended periods of time.
According to media reports, the hydrogen-powered rover of Japan, will include features such as a solid life-supporting system for longer missions, high-class equipment for comprehensive research, protection from moon’s high radiation, and an airlock facility for easy access to the lunar surface.
According to the official Toyota website, the Lunar Cruiser aims to contribute to JAXA’s lunar ambitions by providing “reliability, durability, driving performance, and FC (fuel cell) technology” that the brand has developed through years of research and development. Due to the vehicle’s mobility, there is a high possibility of exploring never-before-seen parts of the moon.
The Artemis mission, led by National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA), aims for extensive exploration of the lunar surface. It also hopes to establish human presence on the moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The Moon is also a testbed for further human exploration missions to Mars. For this, NASA is actively collaborating with not only private companies but also space agencies from around the globe. International partnerships are important, as the discoveries will benefit the entire world.
Presently, four space agencies are collaborating with NASA on the Artemis mission. They include the European Space Agency (ESA), Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre of the United Arab Emirates. Along with providing technical support, astronauts from these countries will fly on Artemis missions.
Since 2019, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA) and Toyota have been building research on this pressurized rover, nicknamed the “Lunar Cruiser“.The name is a reference to Toyota’s Land Cruiser SUV, renowned for the image of durability and reliability it has earned over the years The agreement between JAXA and Toyota was signed on June 13, 2019. The expected launch date has been estimated to be in the latter years of 2020.
The rover will support both crewed and uncrewed missions to the moon. It will be launched for the first time during the Artemis VII mission. The mobile laboratory will be an interesting opportunity for researchers to analyze the lunar environment from the safety of their vehicle for extended periods of time.
According to media reports, the hydrogen-powered rover of Japan, will include features such as a solid life-supporting system for longer missions, high-class equipment for comprehensive research, protection from moon’s high radiation, and an airlock facility for easy access to the lunar surface.
According to the official Toyota website, the Lunar Cruiser aims to contribute to JAXA’s lunar ambitions by providing “reliability, durability, driving performance, and FC (fuel cell) technology” that the brand has developed through years of research and development. Due to the vehicle’s mobility, there is a high possibility of exploring never-before-seen parts of the moon.
The Artemis mission, led by National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA), aims for extensive exploration of the lunar surface. It also hopes to establish human presence on the moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The Moon is also a testbed for further human exploration missions to Mars. For this, NASA is actively collaborating with not only private companies but also space agencies from around the globe. International partnerships are important, as the discoveries will benefit the entire world.
Presently, four space agencies are collaborating with NASA on the Artemis mission. They include the European Space Agency (ESA), Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre of the United Arab Emirates. Along with providing technical support, astronauts from these countries will fly on Artemis missions.