SpaceX will use the Starship launch and landing system for this mission as soon as mid 2026.
Astrolab aims to demonstrate the benefits of having a highly capable and versatile rover on the lunar surface to create infrastructure, conduct high-priority science, and install technology demos and other specialized equipment.Astrolab intends for this rover to be the first of a fleet of FLEX rovers on the lunar surface, accelerating the ambition of establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon and, eventually, Mars.
“Starship is designed to transport large amounts of cargo, including rovers, to the Moon and Mars for research and exploration,” said, Senior Vice President, Commercial Business at SpaceX. “Developing sustainable outposts will require lunar logistics and transportation on the surface of the Moon, like what Astrolab offers. We look forward to working with the Astrolab team to deliver their FLEX Rover to the surface of the Moon.
In addition to the ability to control FLEX from Earth, Astrolab built the vehicle to function as an unpressurized rover for a crew of two men on the lunar surface. This design meets NASA's requirements for theFLEX is more than just a concept. In the California desert last year, the Astrolab team began testing a full-scale, fully functional terrestrial prototype of the FLEX rover.
Crewed and telerobotic operations, deployment of a range of heavy payloads, science activities with its robotic arm, and engineering testing of the rover's mobility capabilities in difficult terrain were all part of the tests. Testing in lunar analog sites throughout California has continued through 2022 and this year.
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