Commercial Moon Rovers Under Test
NASA and its commercial partners are testing rovers that will explore the Moon in the coming years.
The rovers are being developed under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, which is designed to foster the development of a commercial space industry that can support NASA’s lunar exploration goals.
Three companies are currently testing rovers under CLPS: Astrobotic Technology, Intuitive Machines, and Orbit Beyond.
Astrobotic’s rover, called Peregrine, is designed to land on the Moon’s surface and deploy a variety of scientific instruments. The rover is currently undergoing testing at the company’s facility in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Intuitive Machines’ rover, called Nova-C, is also designed to land on the Moon’s surface and deploy scientific instruments. The rover is currently undergoing testing at the company’s facility in Houston, Texas.
Orbit Beyond’s rover, called Z-01, is designed to land on the Moon’s surface and collect samples of lunar soil. The rover is currently undergoing testing at the company’s facility in Centennial, Colorado.
The three rovers are expected to be ready for flight in 2024. They will be launched to the Moon on commercial rockets and will land on the Moon’s surface in 2025.
The rovers will conduct a variety of scientific investigations on the Moon, including:
- Studying the Moon’s geology and mineralogy
- Searching for water ice on the Moon
- Exploring the Moon’s polar regions
- Demonstrating new technologies for lunar exploration
The data collected by the rovers will help NASA to plan for future human missions to the Moon. The rovers will also help to pave the way for the development of a commercial lunar economy.
“These rovers are an important step towards NASA’s goal of returning humans to the Moon by 2024,” said Jim Bridenstine, NASA Administrator. “They will provide us with valuable data about the Moon and help us to develop the technologies we need for future human missions.”
The CLPS program is part of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon by 2024. The Artemis program is the next step in human space exploration and will pave the way for future missions to Mars and beyond.
Commercial Moon Rovers Under Test
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