New commercial Artemis lunar probe undergoes testing at NASA

Through NASA’s Artemis campaign, astronauts will land on the moon and use a new generation of spacesuits and probes to live, work, and do science in the moon’s south polar region, expanding the reach of the moon’s surface more than ever before. You will be exploring. The agency recently completed the first test of three LTVs (Lunar Terrain Vehicles) commercially owned and developed by Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

As part of a year-long ongoing feasibility study, the companies delivered a static mock-up of the vehicle to Johnson in late September, began testing the rover in October, and launched an active response gravity vehicle in December. – Completed initial testing within the off-road system (ARGOS) test facility. The gravity on the moon is one-sixth of the gravity we experience on Earth. Therefore, to mimic this, ARGOS provides an analog environment in which pressurized objects can be offloaded suitable for various reduced gravity simulations.

NASA’s engineering team conducted tests in which appropriate NASA astronauts and engineers worked, maneuvered, and conducted emergency training on each spacecraft. These human-involved tests, with astronauts as subjects, allow the crew to provide critical feedback on each rover’s design features, evaluate display interfaces and controls, and identify potential safety concerns and design This is invaluable as it helps identify the above issues.

This feedback will be shared directly with each commercial provider to incorporate changes based on lessons learned as the spacecraft design evolves.

“We are excited to have mock-ups from all three LTV commercial providers on display here at Johnson Space Center,” said LTV Project Manager Steve Munday. “This is the first major testing milestone in the Lunar Terrain Rover Services contract, and it is noteworthy that the actual rover was delivered just four months after these companies signed the contract. I will.”

The test was conducted by NASA astronauts and technicians who took turns wearing both NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit’s Planetary Prototype Spacesuit and Axiom Space’s Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit’s Lunar Spacesuit. Ta. The test team performed evaluations to understand the interactions between the crew, spacesuits, and LTV mockups.

The crew was suspended from ARGOS while wearing NASA’s prototype spacesuits, allowing the team to mimic the gravitational field one-sixth that of the moon’s surface. This will allow the crew to collect and store lunar geology tools, deploy science payloads, and handle cargo equipment outside of each spacecraft, as if they were walking on the moon. It became.

The team examined the level of ease or difficulty of crew movement to and from the spacecraft while wearing Axiom Space’s pressurized spacesuits, the crew compartments and design, and the ability to move while wearing Axiom Space’s pressurized spacesuit gloves. We evaluated the display interface and hand control operating capabilities.

As part of the test, the team also conducted an emergency drill in which engineers simulated rescuing an incapacitated crew member. As part of NASA’s requirements, each rover must have a design that allows astronauts to independently rescue the crew in an emergency.

Since NASA selected the companies, Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab have worked to meet NASA’s requirements through preliminary design reviews. In 2025, NASA will issue a request for work order proposals to qualified providers for a demonstration mission to continue the development of LTV, deliver it to the lunar surface, and verify its performance and safety in advance of Artemis V. We are planning to publish it. We plan to begin using LTV for manned operations.

Through Artemis, NASA will send astronauts, including the next American and first international partner astronauts, to explore the Moon for scientific discoveries, technological advancements, economic benefits, and future Mars manned missions. Build a foundation for