NASA Tests a New Lunar Rover PrototypeNASA Tests a New Lunar Rover Prototype

It only looks like a golf course’s lawn mower; this is how NASA astronauts will practice driving the next lunar rover.

Dan Carney, Senior Editor

October 14, 2024

3 Min Read
NASA astronaut Kate Rubins chauffeurs Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison "Jack" Schmitt in the Lunar Test Unit at Johnson Space Center.
NASA astronaut Kate Rubins chauffeurs Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison "Jack" Schmitt in the Lunar Test Unit at Johnson Space Center. Schmitt didn't get to drive the Apollo lunar rover either.NASA/James Blair

At a Glance

  • The Ground Test Unit prototype will be used by all three bidders on the Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services contract.
  • NASA and the contractors can test various configurations on the ground rather than on the moon.

While NASA is evaluating bids from three candidates to provide Lunar Rover services like a Hertz Rent-a-Car on the moon, the agency wants to be able to get a test drive beforehand.

The lunar rover Ground Test Unit is a prototype that NASA is using to simulate and evaluate the three possible rover concepts that will be used during the planned Artemis missions to the moon.

NASA is evaluating bids from three teams led by Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab to land rovers on the moon for astronauts to use when they arrive. NASA won’t buy or operate the rover from the winning bidder, they’ll just pay for astronauts to use them when they are on the moon.

When astronauts aren’t on the moon, the winning company will be in the position to let others use the rovers remotely for whatever kind of research they need to do that can be performed without humans on-site. These rovers, which are called Lunar Terrain Vehicles (LTV) by NASA, will be open, unpressurized vehicles like the original Apollo lunar rovers.

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The Ground Test Unit is also open, built on an open architecture that can serve as an engineering test bed for the candidate companies as they develop their moon buggies. Having humans drive around the Johnson Space Center in Houston in the GTU will provide useful experience for designing the crew compartment, integrating payloads, and learning to perform maintenance. The first oil change on the moon isn’t exactly a Neil and Buzz-level achievement, but it would be a first!

Related:See the Apollo Lunar Rover Like Never Before

“The Ground Test Unit will help NASA teams on the ground, test and understand all aspects of rover operations on the lunar surface ahead of Artemis missions,” said Jeff Somers, engineering lead for the Ground Test Unit. “The GTU allows NASA to be a smart buyer, so we are able to test and evaluate rover operations while we work with the [LTV Services] contractors and their hardware.” 

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Like the earthbound GTU mockup, the LTV will support two crewmembers, can operate remotely, and can employ capabilities such as self-leveling and supervised autonomy. Being able to have humans drive a simulated version of the LTV candidates lets the contending contractors test its capabilities while getting hands-on engineering experience developing rover hardware.

The GTU also lets NASA learn how astronauts can live and work safely and productively on the Moon or Mars. Another important aim is to help NASA reduce some risks when it comes to using new technologies or specific rover design features by letting humans try them on Earth before doing it on the moon.

Related:Behind the (Simulated) Wheel of General Motors’ Lunar Rover

About the Author

Dan Carney

Senior Editor, Design News

Dan’s coverage of the auto industry over three decades has taken him to the racetracks, automotive engineering centers, vehicle simulators, wind tunnels, and crash-test labs of the world.

A member of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year jury, Dan also contributes car reviews to Popular Science magazine, serves on the International Engine of the Year jury, and has judged the collegiate Formula SAE competition.

Dan is a winner of the International Motor Press Association's Ken Purdy Award for automotive writing, as well as the National Motorsports Press Association's award for magazine writing and the Washington Automotive Press Association's Golden Quill award.

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He has held a Sports Car Club of America racing license since 1991, is an SCCA National race winner, two-time SCCA Runoffs competitor in Formula F, and an Old Dominion Region Driver of the Year award winner. Co-drove a Ford Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost to 16 Federation Internationale de l’Automobile-accredited world speed records over distances from just under 1km to over 4,104km at the CERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine, France.

He was also a longtime contributor to the Society of Automotive Engineers' Automotive Engineering International magazine.

He specializes in analyzing technical developments, particularly in the areas of motorsports, efficiency, and safety.

He has been published in The New York Times, NBC News, Motor Trend, Popular Mechanics, The Washington Post, Hagerty, AutoTrader.com, Maxim, RaceCar Engineering, AutoWeek, Virginia Living, and others.

Dan has authored books on the Honda S2000 and Dodge Viper sports cars and contributed automotive content to the consumer finance book, Fight For Your Money.

He is a member and past president of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers

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