NASA Chooses Three Companies for Lunar Rover Concepts

NASA has announced its selection of three companies to work on lunar rover concepts for Artemis missions. Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab have been awarded the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) Services contract. These rovers will be used by astronauts to navigate the lunar surface and conduct scientific investigations. The contract follows a similar approach to the procurement of spacesuits and lunar landers, where companies provide them to NASA as services. The companies will design and develop the rovers and offer continued exploration and science after the astronauts have departed.

Hybrid of Apollo and Uncrewed Mobile Science Platform

NASA’s vision for the lunar rovers combines the capabilities of the Apollo-style lunar rovers with those of uncrewed mobile science platforms. The goal is to transport astronauts, facilitate scientific research, and enable exploration in locations that are otherwise inaccessible. The rovers will be teleoperated, which will allow them to conduct scientific investigations even when astronauts are not present. The rovers will play a vital role in conducting research, enabling mobility, and revolutionizing our understanding of the Moon’s surface.

Team Collaborations and Technological Expertise

Intuitive Machines, leading the team called Moon RACER (Reusable Autonomous Crewed Exploration Rover), is collaborating with AVL, Michelin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman for the design and development of their rover. Lunar Outpost, a startup with experience in small robotic rovers, has partnered with Lockheed Martin, MDA Space, General Motors, and Goodyear. Venturi Astrolab is working with Axiom Space and Odyssey Space Research to offer its FLEX rover, which is scheduled to be sent to the Moon on a SpaceX Starship mission in late 2026. Each collaboration brings specific expertise, including automotive technologies, tires, and a combination of spacecraft design and robotics.

Maintaining Competition

The selected companies have initially received small task orders for the rovers’ feasibility phase. During this phase, they will refine their rover designs to a preliminary design review within a year. The total value of the task orders remains undisclosed due to a procurement blackout. NASA will later solicit proposals for a demonstration task order, in which only one company will be selected for the final development of the rover. After successful completion, NASA will procure LTV services from the chosen company for both crewed and uncrewed rover activities. However, NASA’s contract mechanism provides flexibility, allowing for future competition and potential additions of new providers.

NASA’s choice of relying on a single company for LTV services is based on available budgets. Nevertheless, the agency remains open to possibilities of maintaining competition and aims to bring in more commercial requests as the market evolves. The contract’s on-ramp clause enables the inclusion of additional competition and the continual growth of commercial interests.

The number of LTV proposals received remains undisclosed, but entries in a federal procurement database suggest that NASA received a total of nine proposals. While companies like Leidos had shown interest in the LTV competition, the final three selected companies will have the opportunity to offer their LTV rovers to non-NASA customers as well. As the market for lunar exploration and research expands, commercial demand is expected to grow, leading NASA to increase the availability of rover time and enhance lunar science.

Image Source: NASA