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Three companies were awarded contracts by NASA on Wednesday as the agency continues to search for vehicles to transport astronauts around the moon during the Artemis mission.
NASA has identified the recipients as Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab, all of whom are working on designs to deliver its vehicles and services.
The space agency hopes to have a lunar topography probe operational for the Artemis V crew in 2030.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 24: NASA graphics inside a spacecraft mockup facility are seen during a public media preview at NASA Johnson Space Center on October 24, 2018 in Houston, Texas. .A public open house will be held ((Photo by Lauren Elliott/Getty Images)/Getty Images)
NASA announced Wednesday, through an initial feasibility task order, that teams from the three companies will separately conduct “a year-long special study to develop a system that meets NASA requirements through a preliminary design maturity project phase.”
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Intuitive Machines said the feasibility evaluation contract value reached $30 million.
According to NASA, only one of them will receive a subsequent award for “a demonstration mission to continue the development of LTV, deliver it to the lunar surface, and verify its performance and safety in advance of Artemis V.” It is said that there is a high possibility.
The space agency estimated the total value of the lunar rover’s “indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, milestone-based” contract program at $4.6 billion.
Last year, we officially began requesting companies to submit proposals regarding LTV.
At the time, NASA outlined a number of requirements and capabilities needed for a vehicle to perform both manned and unmanned operations. These include features to withstand the “extreme” cold temperatures of the moon’s south pole, a robotic arm, and semi-autonomous operation.
NASA is seeking space for two astronauts.
U.S. successfully lands on the moon for the first time in half a century with a private robotic spacecraft
“This spacecraft will greatly improve the ability of astronauts to explore and conduct science on the lunar surface, while also serving as a science platform during crewed missions,” said Vanessa Wyche, director of the Johnson Space Center. “I will.”
NASA announces Venturi Astrolab, two other companies working on lunar rover design (Venturi Astrolab)
Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab announced some details about their respective Lunar Terrain Vehicles in conjunction with news of the contract from NASA.
The name of the vehicle being developed by Intuitive Machines is the “Reusable Autonomous Crewed Exploration Rover” (RACER). Venturi Astrolab’s spacecraft is called the Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) spacecraft, according to a press release.
Intuitive Machines is working on a lunar rover (intuitive machine)
Lunar Outpost’s design includes reconfigurable loading docks and other commercial use features.
Lunar terrain vehicle designed by Lunar Outpost (Moon Outpost/Lockheed Martin)
The company that ultimately wins the LTV service contract will be able to commercially deploy vehicles to the moon’s surface when the space agency is not using the vehicles, NASA said.
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More than 50 years have passed since American astronauts last set foot on the moon. America’s first manned moon landing in 1969 was watched by approximately 650 million people worldwide.
