Lunar Rover for long-range Moon exploration

Toyota and JAXA teamed up to develop a manned self-driving lunar rover, with 10,000-km (6,200 miles) range.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Toyota Motor Corporation agreed today to study the possibility of collaborating on international space exploration.

As a first step, JAXA and Toyota agreed to further cooperate on and accelerate their ongoing joint study of a manned, pressurized rover that employs fuel cell vehicle technologies. Such a form of mobility is deemed necessary for human exploration activities on the lunar surface.

Even with the limited amount of energy that can be transported to the moon, the pressurized rover would have a total lunar-surface cruising range of more than 10,000 km.

Lunar Rover for long-range Moon exploration

  • Length: 6.0 m; width: 5.2 m; height: 3.8 m (about the size of two microbuses)
  • Living space: 13m3
  • Capable of accommodating two people (four people in an emergency)

Images credit JAXA

source JAXA