NASA’s announcement on Wednesday of the selection of three companies to work on developing a rover for astronauts to explore the moon marks a significant step in the agency’s plans to return humans to the lunar surface. The chosen companies—including Intuitive Machines, co-founded by billionaire Kam Ghaffarian—will work on developing a Lunar Terrain Vehicle to help astronauts from NASA’s Artemis program explore more of the Moon and search for resources. While only one company will be awarded a contract to actually build and send the rover to the moon, all three companies will enter into milestone-based contracts with competitive task orders to ensure NASA receives the best value for the government.
Intuitive Machines, one of the selected companies, announced that it was awarded $30 million for a Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services Feasibility Assessment. The total value of the contracts for the companies could reach up to $4.6 billion, according to NASA. The new rover is expected to last for 10 years on the Moon, carry two astronauts, have a robotic arm, and be able to withstand extreme temperatures in the lunar South Pole. This rover will play a crucial role in the Artemis missions, which aim to land the first woman, first person of color, and first international partner astronaut on the Moon.
NASA hopes to use the moon rover for crewed operations starting with the launch of Artemis V in 2029. The agency has been increasingly relying on the commercial space industry for its missions, with companies owned by billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk receiving large contracts. Intuitive Machines recently made history by becoming the first company to land a privately operated spacecraft intact on the moon, carrying NASA experiments and commercial payloads. The company is collaborating with Boeing, Michelin, Northrop Grumman, and other partners on its rover project.
The new lunar rover is a crucial component in NASA’s plans to establish a long-term presence on the moon and conduct advanced scientific research. The vehicle will enable astronauts to explore more of the lunar surface, particularly in the south polar region where water, ice, and other resources are believed to be present. The rover is designed to work both with and without a crew, combining the capabilities of previous lunar and Mars rovers. Venturi Astrolab, another selected company, stated that its total contract could be worth up to $1.9 billion. The involvement of these companies in the development of the Lunar Terrain Vehicle underscores the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in advancing space exploration.
NASA’s selection of these companies for the development of the moon rover highlights the agency’s commitment to advancing its Artemis program and returning humans to the moon. The technological advancements made through these contracts will not only benefit NASA’s missions but also contribute to the growth of the commercial space industry. With billionaires like Kam Ghaffarian playing a key role in these initiatives, the future of space exploration looks promising. The successful development and deployment of the Lunar Terrain Vehicle will pave the way for groundbreaking discoveries on the moon and beyond, furthering our understanding of the universe and our place in it.
