{"id":12817,"date":"2022-05-06T05:00:48","date_gmt":"2022-05-06T03:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/?p=118767"},"modified":"2022-05-06T05:25:11","modified_gmt":"2022-05-06T03:25:11","slug":"one-giant-joyride-for-humankind-the-new-breed-of-lunar-rovers","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/one-giant-joyride-for-humankind-the-new-breed-of-lunar-rovers\/","title":{"rendered":"One giant joyride for humankind: The new breed of lunar rovers"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By James Cutmore\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 06 May 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

With many countries aiming to send a crewed mission back to the Moon after 50 years away, there\u2019s a pressing need for research vehicles to travel the lunar surface. This is especially important if we are aiming to have a sustainable presence on the Moon in order to harness lunar resources, or to use it as a springboard for more ambitious space exploration.<\/p>\n

In response to this demand, many companies are producing designs for lunar rovers for potential future launches, including NASA\u2019s Artemis<\/a> program, as well as many other commercial launches.<\/p>\n

A lunar rover must have the ability to travel across the Moon\u2019s<\/a> rocky and dusty surface while avoiding huge boulders and undulating terrain. It also needs to be energy efficient, as energy sources for operating vehicles in space are limited.<\/p>\n

There are many companies vying to get hold of a contract to get their design up on the Moon.\u00a0Take a look at some of the best ones in our gallery.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Venturi Astrolab \u2013 FLEX<\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Astrolab<\/a> is developing the multi-functional Flexible Logistics & Exploration (FLEX) rover in conjunction with electric vehicle maker Venturi. This rover has room for two pilots, and has the ability to pick up and deposit modular payloads in support of human operations, such as the transportation of mined materials or the carrying of large loads on the unforgiving lunar surface. Photo by Astrolab<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The proof-of-concept FLEX Rover is shown being rigorously tested in the Californian desert, USA. The rover is adaptable, and can be changed to carry a variety of payloads, such as this solar tower. Photo by\u00a0Astrolab<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

NASA \u2013 VIPER<\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
NASA\u2019s VIPER<\/a> rover (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover), is due to be launched\u00a0in late 2023 under NASA\u2019s Commercial Lunar Payload Services\u202f(CLPS)\u202fprogram. Photo by NASA<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
An engineering model of the VIPER rover is tested in the Simulated Lunar Operations Laboratory at NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. About the size of a golf cart, VIPER is a mobile robot that will roam around the Moon\u2019s south pole looking for ice in the region and actually sample the ice at the same pole where the first woman and next man on the Moon will land in 2024, under NASA\u2019s Artemis program. Photo by NASA\/Bridget Caswell\/Alcyon Technical Services<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Dymon \u2013 YAOKI<\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
This photo, taken in Akabira on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on 30 June 2021, shows what would be the world\u2019s first commercial rover for lunar exploration, called YAOKI. It has been\u00a0developed by Tokyo-based space venture Dymon<\/a>, and will soon take part in NASA\u2019s lunar transportation mission. Photo by Kyodo News\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
A public experiment is conducted on the YAOKI rover, on 30 June 2021. YAOKI will be launched as part of\u00a0Astrobotic Technology\u2019s lunar lander Peregrine. The rover is very light and manoeuvrable, and perfect for lunar exploration. Photo by Kyodo News\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

JAXA & Nissan lunar rover<\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
In December 2021, Nissan<\/a> unveiled a lunar rover prototype jointly developed with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) at its Nissan Futures event. Photo by Nissan\/JAXA<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
With the development of this rover, Nissan has been able to demonstrate it\u2019s new \u2018e-4orce\u2019 all-wheel control technology, which should mean that the rover would be less likely to get stuck on the Moon\u2019s notoriously tricky terrain. While in its current iteration it is unlikely this rover will make it to the Moon, the research conducted using this demonstrator will undoubtedly influence future designs. Photo by Nissan\/JAXA<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

More galleries from Science Focus<\/em> magazine:<\/strong><\/p>\n