NASA has chosen three private space companies to work on a prototype for a lunar all-terrain vehicle that will be used by astronauts to explore and conduct science experiments on the moon. The vehicle must be able to withstand extreme conditions, including power supply, autonomous driving, communication, and navigation.
Vanessa Wyche, manager of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, stated that the selected vehicle will greatly enhance the ability of astronauts to explore and conduct science experiments on the lunar surface. The Artemis program aims to send humans to the moon for the first time in over half a century, including the first non-white person and the first woman.
The long-term goal of Artemis is to establish a permanent lunar base as a basis for missions to Mars. However, due to issues with the rocket and spacecraft, NASA had to delay the Artemis 2 manned mission from November 2024 to September 2025. The planned Artemis 3 manned landing on the moon was also delayed until September 2026.
NASA is not alone in its efforts towards advancements in space exploration. China’s space agency announced in May 2023 that they plan to send humans to the moon by 2030. Both NASA and China are working towards significant achievements in space exploration and aim to make history in the coming years.
