NASA Chooses Three Companies To Develop Vehicles That Can Operate On The Moon

Illustration of vehicles on the Moon (photo: dock. NASA)

JAKARTA NASA has selected the concept of making lunar field vehicles (LTV) from Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab. These three companies will develop cars to drive on the Moon. The plan, LTV selected from one of the companies will be used by astronauts to explore the moon, carry out scientific research, and prepare human travel missions to Mars. If possible, LTV will be launched for NASA's Artemis V.Director of the Johnson Space Center, Vanessa Wyche, said that exploration support vehicles are urgently needed in the Artemis mission. The reason is, these vehicles will assist astronauts in learning many things while on the Moon. "We look forward to developing Artemis-generation exploration vehicles to help us," Wyche said. "This vehicle will greatly improve the ability of our astronauts to explore and do science on the lunar surface." The selected LTV will get an achievement-based Terrain Lunar Vehicle Service contract. Vehicles that become part of this industrial service will be contracted infinitely or their quantity is unlimited, depending on NASA's needs.

During the LTV manufacturing process, the three companies will develop a system that meets NASA's requirements through the phase of the early design maturity project. After that, NASA will select one of the companies and submit a proposal in the form of the next task. A contract worth 4.6 billion US dollars (Rp73 trillion) will only be given to one company. Once the LTV version for the demonstration is completed, NASA will again issue an order directing the company to create an LTV until 2039. The vehicle developed must be able to handle extreme conditions at the Moon's South Pole. In addition, LTV must be able to display advanced technology, autonomous driving, as well as have communication and navigation systems that support exploration activities on the Moon. Apart from being driven by astronauts, LTV must be able to move on its own because this vehicle will operate remotely to support NASA's scientific goals. Most likely, this vehicle will be operational after the Artemis V mission.