NASA is preparing for the first manned mission to the Moon in half a century, and it’s developing a new Lunar Lander Vehicle (LTV) for that purpose. But, unlike past prototypes, the innovation looks quite similar to ordinary Earth transportation. A prototype of the Ground Test Unit (GTU) is being built at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
A photo of the prototype shows how it has already been ridden by astronaut Kate Rubins, the first person to sequence DNA in space, and Apollo 17 pilot and former Senator Harrison Schmitt. The lunar rover looks like something between a tractor and a golf cart, although NASA doesn’t explain why it has such a clunky design.
In fact, this prototype will never fly to the Moon. The GTU is designed only for testing on Earth before the Artemis lunar missions. The U.S. space agency has entered into agreements with three private companies — Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost and Venturi Astrolab — to develop key components of a lunar wheeled vehicle.
As NASA lead engineer Jeff Somers explained, the ground test module will help the agency better understand how lunar rovers will function on the lunar surface. The prototype gives NASA the ability to test and evaluate its contractors’ equipment for future missions.
The lunar rover is designed for two astronauts and can be remotely controlled, which gives it an added resemblance to Tesla cars.
We previously reported on how NASA would put a $450 million dollar project in good hands.
According to NASA
