NASA Selects Three Companies to Develop Lunar Terrin Vehicle for Artemis Mission

An imaginary diagram of the Lunar Rover (LTV) performing a mission to the moon. Provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected three candidate companies to produce the Lunar Terrin Vehicle (LTV) for use in the “Artemis” crewed lunar exploration mission. Selected companies will receive support worth $4.6 billion (approximately KRW 6.2215 trillion) by 2030 to develop vehicles for lunar exploration.

On the 3rd (local time), NASA selected three candidate companies to develop LTV: Intuitive Machines, Luna Outpost and Astrolab. These companies will develop the LTV concept over the next year. After a year of evaluation, only one company will ultimately be selected to produce the LTV that will carry out the mission to the Moon.

LTV’s goal is to operate on the Moon by 2030. In order for astronauts to come aboard and execute their mission, they must be able to reach a maximum speed of about 15 kilometers per hour. It can travel 20 km on a single charge and should be able to drive continuously for 8 hours. Its gravity is about one-sixth that of Earth and it must endure the harsh lunar environment, which varies from minus 170 degrees to minus 120 degrees.

Jacob Blitzer, chief engineer of NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Division, said: “LTV runs in arid places without roads” and added: “By moving to places that cannot be reached on foot, it will increase exploration capabilities and make new scientific discoveries. “

LTV is expected to be used on Artemis 5, which NASA plans to launch in March 2030. Artemis 5 is scheduled to fly its third mission to send astronauts to the Moon. If LTV is developed and operated as planned, the first astronauts to travel to the moon using a car will be born.