Bridgestone Corporation has recently unveiled a new concept for its lunar rover tire at the 39th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, taking place from April 8 to 11, 2024. The tire will be showcased at Japan’s Space Industry booth alongside other innovations from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, demonstrating Bridgestone’s dedication to space exploration and mobility advancement.
The company’s goal with this project is to support the development of space mobility by creating tires that can withstand the challenging lunar environment. Building on its initial design, the second-generation tire now includes a robust skeletal structure with thin metal spokes and a segmented tread pattern. These enhancements were developed through structural simulations and digital technologies and are intended to provide durability and traction in extreme lunar conditions such as rocks, sand, vacuum conditions, and temperature variations.
Bridgestone’s commitment to innovation in space exploration is evident in its tire designs for lunar rovers. The first-generation tire was inspired by the footpads of desert-traversing camels and featured a soft, metal-based felt material in the tread area to improve traction on the moon’s rocky surface. The company plans to adapt the knowledge gained from testing tires on the moon to improve tire performance on Earth through its Air Free tire technology. Overall, Bridgestone’s dedication to advancing mobility in space is clear through its innovative tire designs.
