Toyota Builds Lunar Cruiser, To Prove It As The Universe's Greatest Vehicle Maker

Toyota is building a Lunar Cruiser that will explore the Moon. (photo: wired feed)

JAKARTA – Toyota is known as a reliable car maker on Earth. However, the Japanese car manufacturer still has to prove itself to be the best vehicle maker in the entire universe. It will start from the Moon.

Toyota is now working with the Japan Space Agency (JAXA) to produce a lunar exploration vehicle as part of its ambition to help people live on the moon by 2040, and beyond on Mars.

The vehicle, which was developed with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, is called the Lunar Cruiser, with a name that pays homage to their sports utility vehicle, the Toyota Land Cruiser.

That goal won't be long before the Lunar Cruiser becomes a reality, with its launch set for the late 2020s.

The explorer for Toyota will be similar to an RV that will accommodate two people and can operate for up to 14 days. This allowed them to live and work inside while traveling across the moon.

"This vehicle is based on the idea that people eat, work, sleep and communicate with others safely in a car, and the same can be done in space," said Takao Sato, who heads the Lunar Cruiser project at Toyota. by Dailymail.

"We see space as an area for our once-in-a-century transformation," added Sato. "By going into space, we may be able to develop telecommunications and other technologies that can prove valuable to human life."

Gitai Japan, a company contracted by Toyota, has developed a robotic arm for the Lunar Cruiser, designed to perform tasks such as inspection and maintenance.

The “grapple kit” allows the ends of the arms to be changed so they can work like different tools, scooping, lifting and sweeping.

Gitai's chief executive, Sho Nakanose. said that he felt the challenge of gliding into space had been basically fulfilled, but that working in space was costly and dangerous for astronauts. "That's where robots will come in handy," Nakanose said.

Since its founding in the 1930s, Toyota is now nervous about losing its core business to changing times. They have ventured into other businesses such as housing, ships, jets and robotics. Construction will begin this year on a sustainable, internet-connected residence near Mount Fuji, called Woven City.

Today the Japanese interest in the moon has grown. A private Japanese company called ispace is working on a lunar rover, landing and orbiting, and is slated for a moon landing later this year.