{"id":475764,"date":"2023-05-26T13:55:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-26T17:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?post_type=migration&p=475764"},"modified":"2023-08-02T15:16:09","modified_gmt":"2023-08-02T19:16:09","slug":"nasa-pursues-lunar-terrain-vehicle-services-for-artemis-missions","status":"publish","type":"press-release","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-pursues-lunar-terrain-vehicle-services-for-artemis-missions\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA Pursues Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services for Artemis Missions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ltv_image_.png\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"985\" height=\"554\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ltv_image_.png?w=985\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Artist's concept of NASA's next-generation Lunar Terrain Vehicle on the surface of the Moon.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ltv_image_.png 985w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ltv_image_.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ltv_image_.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ltv_image_.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ltv_image_.png?resize=600,337 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ltv_image_.png?resize=900,506 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 985px) 100vw, 985px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Artist\u2019s concept of NASA\u2019s next-generation Lunar Terrain Vehicle on the surface of the Moon. <strong>Credits: NASA<\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>NASA is seeking industry proposals for a next-generation LTV (Lunar Terrain Vehicle) that will allow astronauts to go farther and conduct more science than ever before as they explore the south polar region of the Moon during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/specials\/artemis\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Artemis<\/a> missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Artemis astronauts will drive to explore and sample more of the lunar surface using the LTV than they could on foot. NASA will contract LTV as a service from industry rather than owning the rover. Contracting services from industry partners allows NASA to leverage commercial innovation and provide the best value to U.S. taxpayers while achieving its human spaceflight scientific and exploration goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe want to leverage industry\u2019s knowledge and innovation, combined with NASA\u2019s history of successfully operating rovers, to make the best possible surface rover for our astronaut crews and scientific researchers,\u201d said Lara Kearney, manager of NASA\u2019s Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility program at the agency\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The LTV will function like a cross between an Apollo-style lunar rover and a Mars-style uncrewed rover. It will support phases driven by astronauts and phases as an uncrewed mobile science exploration platform, similar to NASA\u2019s Curiosity and Perseverance Mars rovers. This will enable continued performance of science even when crews are not present on the lunar surface. Artemis astronauts will use the LTV to traverse the lunar surface and transport scientific equipment, extending the distances they can cover on each moonwalk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under the Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services <a href=\"https:\/\/sam.gov\/opp\/d663d1bbf5f94b498fd5f6b44fd9c916\/view\" rel=\"noopener\">request for proposals<\/a>, NASA has provided requirements for companies interested in developing and demonstrating the LTV, including an approach that encourages companies to produce an innovative rover for use by NASA and other commercial customers for multiple years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Engineers will be able to operate the LTV remotely to transport cargo and scientific payloads between crewed landing sites, enabling additional science returns, resource prospecting, and lunar exploration. This will expand scientific research opportunities on the Moon during uncrewed operations, allow scientists to investigate future surface mission locations, and inform research goals and objectives for each site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To handle the unique environment near the lunar South Pole, which includes permanently shadowed regions and extended periods without sunlight, the LTV will need to incorporate several systems to support both crewed and uncrewed operations. Some of the more critical systems include advanced power management, semi-autonomous driving, state-of-the-art communication and navigation systems, and protection from the extreme environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As part of the proposals, companies are required to provide end-to-end services, from development and delivery to the lunar surface, to execution of operations. Each rover must be able to carry two suited astronauts, accommodate a robotic arm or mechanism to support science exploration, and survive the extreme temperatures at the lunar South Pole. The company will be asked to successfully demonstrate the LTV in the lunar environment prior to using it in a crewed capacity.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA intends to use the LTV for crewed operations beginning with Artemis V in 2029. Prior to crew arrival, the rover will be used for uncrewed and commercial activities once it lands on the lunar surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Proposals for the LTV services contract are due July 10, 2023, with the contract award scheduled for November 2023. This request for proposals incorporates feedback from industry through a draft request for proposals and a previous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/nasa-prompts-companies-for-artemis-lunar-terrain-vehicle-solutions\" rel=\"noopener\">request for information<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through Artemis, NASA will send astronauts \u2013 including the first woman and first person of color \u2013 to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for crewed missions to Mars. Together, NASA\u2019s Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, Gateway lunar orbital outpost, advanced spacesuits and rovers, and human landing systems are the agency\u2019s foundation for deep space exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more about this request for proposals at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/jsc\/procurement\/ltv\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>-end-<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vanessa Lloyd \/ Kathryn Hambleton <br>\nHeadquarters, Washington <br>\n202-397-0807 \/ 202-358-1100 <br><a href=\"mailto:vanessa.c.lloyd@nasa.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vanessa.c.lloyd@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ <a href=\"mailto:kathryn.hambleton@nasa.gov\">kathryn.hambleton@nasa.gov<\/a>  <br>\nTim Hall<br>\nJohnson Space Center, Houston<br>\n281-483-5111<br><a href=\"mailto:timothy.a.hall@nasa.gov\">timothy.a.hall@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA is seeking industry proposals for a next-generation LTV (Lunar Terrain Vehicle) that will allow astronauts to go farther and conduct more science than ever before as they explore the south polar region of the Moon during Artemis missions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":476450,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"23-059","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"RELEASE","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[],"news-tags":[12375],"internal-terms":[9507],"coauthors":[10213],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"NASA Pursues Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services for Artemis Missions","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-pursues-lunar-terrain-vehicle-services-for-artemis-missions\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-pursues-lunar-terrain-vehicle-services-for-artemis-missions\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ltv_image_.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ltv_image_.png"},"articleSection":"General","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Claire A. O'Shea"}],"creator":["Claire A. O'Shea"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2023-05-26T17:55:00Z","datePublished":"2023-05-26T17:55:00Z","dateModified":"2023-08-02T19:16:09Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"NASA Pursues Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services for Artemis Missions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-pursues-lunar-terrain-vehicle-services-for-artemis-missions\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ltv_image_.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2023-05-26T17:55:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"General\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Claire A. O'Shea\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":4,"featured_image":{"id":476450,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ltv_image_.png","title":"ltv_image_","alt":"Artist's concept of NASA's next-generation Lunar Terrain Vehicle on the surface of the Moon.","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/475764"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press-release"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/123"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/475764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":640841,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/475764\/revisions\/640841"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/476450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=475764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=475764"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=475764"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=475764"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=475764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}