Leidos partnered with NASCAR, a motorsports organization, to develop a lunar terrain vehicle (LTV) for NASA’s Artemis program.
On April 18th, Leidos unveiled a prototype of the lunar rover they are developing at the Space Foundation’s annual Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Leidos referred to the collaboration as “a promotional partnership,” with the two industry leaders coming together to focus on “speed, safety, and reliability.”
Leidos and its Dynetics team have created a vehicle that is similar in appearance to the lunar vehicle that was used during the Apollo program. However, this design features several cutting-edge technological components to enhance performance and durability for exploring the Moon’s surface.
Able to carry two astronauts, the lunar vehicle provides increased driver safety with gender equality in mind to accommodate all astronauts. Leidos and its partner included high-performance batteries and solar arrays to increase the time astronauts can work on the surface, nickel-titanium alloy tires better suited to the lunar environment, and additional communications capabilities.
The collaboration between the two companies isn’t unique, as NASA has a long history of contributing to advancing technology and safety in motorsports and vice versa. Leidos and Dynetics are currently primary sponsors of NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace and the 23XI team. In addition to NASCAR, other companies contributing to this LTV design bid include Moog, Collins Aerospace, Motiv Space Systems, Sophic Synergistics, and more.
NASA is expected to release a request for LTV proposals within the next month and award a contract to one of the bidders before the end of 2023. As with many current missions, NASA has looked to commercial industry partners to develop an LTV as a service contract, leaving the winning bidder as the vehicle owner.
NASA plans to return humans to the Moon as part of the Artemis program, with a lunar vehicle landing on the Moon as part of the Artemis V mission. This is achieved by transporting the lunar rover to the surface of the Moon onboard a lunar landing system. SpaceX has already been awarded a contract by NASA to develop one of two lunar landing systems, and the agency is expected to announce a second Artemis lunar landing system in the coming months.
Lockheed, Sierra Space, Northrop Grumman, and more have indicated plans to submit bids for the NASA LTV service contract.
