AP

New lunar rover in the works as NASA moon mission advances

Jul 20, 2022, 8:49 PM | Updated: Jul 21, 2022, 9:00 am

FILE - Rover alone, looking north, on the west edge of Mount Hadley is at upper right edge of pictu...

FILE - Rover alone, looking north, on the west edge of Mount Hadley is at upper right edge of picture, the most distant lunar feature visible is about 25 kilometers away, Aug. 1971. Goodyear is teaming with Lockheed Martin on the development of a vehicle planned for use on the moon, providing airless tires for the project. This isn't Goodyear's first venture into space, as it supplied essential products for NASA's Apollo program, including the Apollo 11 mission. (AP Photo, File)

(AP Photo, File)


              FILE - In this July 20, 1969, file photo, Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, right, trudges across the surface of the moon leaving behind footprints. Goodyear is teaming with Lockheed Martin on the development of a vehicle planned for use on the moon, providing airless tires for the project. This isn't Goodyear's first venture into space, as it supplied essential products for NASA's Apollo program, including the Apollo 11 mission. (AP Photo, File)
            
              FILE - In this July 20, 1969, file photo made available by NASA, astronaut Buzz Aldrin Jr. poses for a photograph beside the U.S. flag on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. Goodyear is teaming with Lockheed Martin on the development of a vehicle planned for use on the moon, providing airless tires for the project. This isn't Goodyear's first venture into space, as it supplied essential products for NASA's Apollo program, including the Apollo 11 mission. (Neil Armstrong/NASA via AP, File)
            
              FILE - Rover alone, looking north, on the west edge of Mount Hadley is at upper right edge of picture, the most distant lunar feature visible is about 25 kilometers away, Aug. 1971.  Goodyear is teaming with Lockheed Martin on the development of a vehicle planned for use on the moon, providing airless tires for the project. This isn't Goodyear's first venture into space, as it supplied essential products for NASA's Apollo program, including the Apollo 11 mission.  (AP Photo, File)

A new lunar rover is under development by Lockheed Martin and Goodyear as NASA gears up for a return to the moon.

Unlike the rover first used during the Apollo 15 mission in 1971, built to last only a few days and for short trips, the new lunar vehicle is being built for extended use. And this time, it’s not just for NASA.

“We’re developing this new generation of lunar mobility vehicle to be available to NASA and for commercial companies and even other space agencies to support science and human exploration,” said Kirk Shireman, vice president of Lunar Exploration at Lockheed Martin. “This approach exemplifies NASA’s desire for industry to take the lead with commercial efforts that enable the agency to be one of many customers.”

Neil Armstrong became the first person to step onto the moon’s surface on this day in 1969 as part of the Apollo 11 mission.

Goodyear, which was also involved in NASA’s Apollo missions, will employ the airless tire technology it uses here for autonomous shuttles and other passenger vehicles. Lockheed Martin, based in Fort Worth, Texas, has worked with NASA for more than 50 years, including NASA’s Orion exploration-class spaceship for Artemis and numerous Mars planetary spacecraft.

The lunar vehicles will need to withstand extreme conditions on the moon’s surface, where temperatures drop to -250 degrees Fahrenheit (-156.67 degrees Celsius) at night and rise to over 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121.11 degrees Celsius) during the day.

Aside from Goodyear, based in Akron, Ohio, and Lockheed Martin, MDA of Canada will provide its commercial robotic arm technology for the vehicles.

The companies anticipate having their first vehicle on the moon’s surface at the same time as NASA’s mission, planned for 2025.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Image: A cargo ship is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after ...

Associated Press

Authorities identify 2 bodies recovered at site of Baltimore bridge collapse

A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

1 day ago

Photo: Mountaineer Jim Whittaker has died at 95....

Gene Johnson, The Associated Press

Lou Whittaker, among the most famous American mountaineers, has died at age 95

Lou Whittaker, a legendary American mountaineer who helped lead ascents of Mount Everest, K2 and Denali, has died at age 95.

1 day ago

File photo: Former Sen. Joe Lieberman speaks in Washington on Jan. 18, 2024....

Associated Press

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP pick in 2000, dead at 82

Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in 2000, has died.

1 day ago

islamic state attack...

Vanessa Gera, The Associated Press

What we know after the Islamic State group claims responsibility for Moscow massacre

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed at least 133 people.

5 days ago

Moscow shooting...

The Associated Press

Russia: 60 dead, 145 injured in concert hall raid; Islamic State group claims responsibility

Assailants burst into a concert hall in Moscow on Friday and sprayed the crowd with gunfire, killing over 60 people, injuring more than 100.

6 days ago

Photo: Britain's Kate, Duchess of Cambridge visits 282 (East Ham) Squadron, RAF Air Cadets, Cornwel...

Associated Press

Kate Middleton announces she has cancer, is undergoing chemotherapy

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, says she is undergoing chemotherapy to treat cancer. She has been out of view since Christmas.

7 days ago

New lunar rover in the works as NASA moon mission advances