NASA Selects Four Companies to Develop Lunar Terrain Vehicle for Artemis Astronauts
The US space agency NASA has chosen four companies — Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab — to design a lunar terrain vehicle (LTV) that will be used by Artemis astronauts to explore the Moon’s surface. This vehicle will play a crucial role in conducting scientific research during NASA’s Artemis campaign on the Moon and in preparing for future human missions to Mars.
“We are excited about the development of the Artemis generation lunar exploration vehicle, which will help us advance our understanding of the Moon,” said Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “This vehicle will significantly enhance our astronauts’ ability to explore and conduct scientific experiments on the lunar surface, while also serving as a science platform between crewed missions.”
The contract with these companies has a combined maximum potential value of $4.6 billion for all awards. Each provider will start with a feasibility task order, which will involve a year-long special study to develop a system that meets NASA’s requirements through the preliminary design maturity project phase. The LTV will be used for crewed operations during Artemis V, and will also operate remotely to support NASA’s scientific objectives during periods when crews are not on the Moon.
In addition to supporting NASA missions, the providers will have the opportunity to use their LTV for commercial lunar surface activities. “We will use the LTV to travel to locations we might not otherwise be able to reach on foot, increasing our ability to explore and make new scientific discoveries,” said Jacob Bleacher, chief exploration scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
White House Requests NASA to Establish Special Time Zone for the Moon
In a separate development, the White House has tasked NASA with creating a unified standard time for the moon and other celestial bodies. The proposed Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) is intended to streamline space missions and enhance efficiency by providing a standardized timekeeping system.
Arati Prabhakar, head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, emphasized the importance of establishing a special time zone for the moon. “Standardizing time for the moon is fundamental to scientific discovery, economic development, and international collaboration,” Prabhakar stated in a letter. The new time zone must be developed by the end of 2026, with the goal of making space operations safer and more efficient.