GM is collaborating with Lockheed Martin to develop a next-generation lunar meanderer for NASA Artemis astronauts to investigate the moon with.
The two organizations are being called upon for their particular ability in the fields of aeronautics and vehicle functionality to make the next Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV). This next-generation LTV will permit astronauts to traverse the moon’s surface further than ever before.
Lockheed Martin will lead the team by leveraging its 50-year partnership (and involvement in) NASA in building human and robotic spacecraft. GM’s expertise in battery-electric technology will be vital to the partnership, as will its encounters in independent innovation – set to permit more secure and more effective vehicle procedure on the moon.
GM likewise has history with NASA and the space industry after it manufactured and tested the inertial guidance and navigation systems for the whole Apollo moon program in the late 1960s. GM likewise fostered the electric Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), including the chassis and wheels for the LRV that was utilized on Apollo’s 15-17 missions.
The next-generation LTV will travel essentially farther than Apollo rovers, which just travelled 7.6km from the landing site. They should be extreme, reliable and effective to investigate the south side of the moon, where its colder, darker and the terrain is more rough.
“This alliance brings together powerhouse innovation from both companies to make a transformative class of vehicles,” said Rick Ambrose, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin Space.
“Surface mobility is critical to enable and sustain long-term exploration of the lunar surface. These next-generation rovers will dramatically extend the range of astronauts as they perform high-priority science investigation on the Moon that will ultimately impact humanity’s understanding of our place in the solar system.”
