NASA wants to return to the moon in 2024 and the organization responsible for the space program of the United States is enlisting the help of ‘industry’ for various parts of that adventure. General Motors and Lockheed Martin are collaborating on a moon car that – if chosen by NASA – will autonomously travel its miles on the moon.
NASA is currently working on the Artemis space program with the goal of returning to the moon by 2024. The manned lunar mission also requires a new lunar car. General Motors and defense concern Lockheed Martin join forces to develop a new moon car together.
The as-yet-unnamed LTV – short for Lunar Terrain Vehicle – is one of reportedly many modes of transportation NASA plans to deploy on the moon during its Artemis program. Locheed Martin is taking the lead in the development of the moon car to be developed with GM. General Motors will be responsible for, among other things, the development of the electric powertrain, but there is more. The American car group will also put ‘autonomous technology’ in the lunar car, technology that should make making lunar kilometers a lot safer, according to the car giant. General Motors has experience in developing lunar cars, and various branches of the group have also intervened in the development of the Lunar Roving Vehicle that was used during the Apollo 15, 16 and 18 lunar missions.
Where the Apollo ‘rovers’ traveled only 7.6 kilometers from the landing site, the new moon car should be able to get a lot further. In addition, the new lunar car must also be able to survive a trip to the south pole of the moon.