It ’s clock time to hop in and go for a ride , as Venturi Astrolab has point off a multi - purpose lunar vehicle designed to deliver loading , perform scientific investigations , and carry two astronauts . The California - found startup hop NASA will finally choose its construct for the Artemis platform , as the space agency seeks to establish a long - term presence on the Moon .
NASA is preparing for the forthcoming Artemis missions , but it has yet to resolve on a Lunar Terrain Vehicle . Lockheed Martin and General Motors have team up up to design an LTV , as have Northrop Grumman and AVL . We can now add Venturi Astrolab and its Flexible Logistics and Exploration ( FLEX ) rover to the tilt of contenders .
Astrolab , staff by former NASA and SpaceX employee , partner with Venturi Group , a developer of electric vehicles . plant by Jaret Matthews , the company is seek to make not just one FLEX rover but an intact fleet , a goal the society sound out is needed to “ support a sustained human presence on the Moon and Mars . ” That the stated goal of Artemis is to do the same is not a coincidence , as Venturi Astrolab desire to gain ground a NASA contract as a provider of LTVs .
Conceptual video showing FLEX carrying two NASA astronauts across the lunar surface.Gif: Venturi Astrolab/Gizmodo
Instead of rolling out custom - construct roamer designed for specific missions , Venturi Astrolab aims to create a extremely versatile , exchangeable , and modular LTV that can be adjust to all sort of different missions . “ As we transition from the Apollo earned run average , which was focused on pure geographic expedition , to now , where people will be live for longer menstruation on the Moon , the equipment needs to change , ” Chris Hadfield , a former Canadian Space Agency astronaut and now an Astrolab consultative dining table member , said in apress release . “ When we settle somewhere , we do n’t just need to get people from one place to another , but we demand to move computer hardware , cargo , life support equipment and more . And it ’s all dependent on mobility . ”
FLEX is capable of pick up and stick modular payloads , which it would do in support of human cognitive process , science , exploration , logistics , grammatical construction , and “ other activities critical to a sustained presence on the Moon and beyond , ” according to Astrolab’sPayload Interface Guide .
FLEX can serve as an unpressurized roamer , in which two astronaut stick out at the vehicle ’s derriere and guide it along the lunar airfoil . The wanderer can conduct upward of 2,205 pounds ( 1,000 kg ) of cargo , and multiple rover can work together to carry even gravid shipment . lading can be placed either on top of the main pack of cards or be squat .
A FLEX prototype used during testing in the California desert.Photo: Venturi Astrolab
“ We ’ve design a mobility political platform that is warhead agnostic so it can work within an ecosystem of Department of Transportation systems , vehicle and tool , ” Matthews explain . “ FLEX accomplish a wide range of utility by being capable to collect , transport , and fix any shipment that conforms to what will be a standard and open interface . ”
Venturi Astrolab says FLEX adheres to NASA ’s LTV requirements , such as bear an eight - 60 minutes moonwalk , operability at the lunar south celestial pole , and the ability to survive lunar night and engage for a full decade .
Other feature include a pivot feeler to insure changeless high-pitched - bandwidth communicating with Earth , sensor to allow for autonomous role and to avoid hazards , a robotic arm and scientific discipline mast similar to NASA ’s Mars rovers , an adaptative suspension system , and various measures to prevent problem because of the o.k. lunar rubble . FLEX also has a deployable solar array which will stay pointed at the Sun while it ’s roving around the Moon .
The FLEX prototype was put through a series of tests.Photo: Venturi Astrolab
A full - scale , fully function prototype of FLEX has already been build . The unit was tested in the California desert near Death Valley across five day , according to Astrolab . Its crewed and robotic purpose were assess , it was made to deploy various load , both big and small , and it had to cross challenging terrain . Hadfield participate in these tests , say “ it was not only a delight to beat back FLEX but also see its sizing , capableness and get an intuitive sense of what this rover can do . ”
NASA isexpectedto issue a request for LTV proposal of marriage in the come months . It ’s no guarantee that FLEX will be selected , as other society are also in the mixing . A lunar roamer will ask to be quick for the Artemis 5 mission in 2027 , so NASA well get crackin ’ .
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