NASA Moon Rover: Intuitive Machines, Two Others Received Initial Contracts

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 03 April 2024, 09:04 pm

NASA's next commercial partner for its Moon rover granted three initial contracts to various space companies that could build the next lunar vehicle for future missions. These companies include the billionaire-backed Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab. Each contract seemed to be unique based on the claims of each awardee.

Despite three working on said initial contracts and their prototypes, only one would be chosen for the mission and brought to the Moon for NASA astronauts to use.

NASA Moon Rover: Intuitive Machines, Two Others Received Contracts

Venturi Astrolab Rover — (Photo : Venturi Astrolab)

Three companies were now given initial contracts to work on their versions of lunar rovers for NASA's Artemis missions and other ventures.

Intuitive Machines Rover — (Photo : Intuitive Machines)

One of the companies, Intuitive Machines, unveiled that they were given $30 million for its development of the Moon rover, as part of NASA's $4.67 billion LTV Services project. Intuitive Machines will complete a Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services (LTVS) Feasibility Assessment, one that would develop a roadmap for its development and deployment of the LTV (lunar terrain vehicle) on the Moon using its Nova-D cargo-class lunar lander.

Venturi Astrolab, on the other hand, revealed that its initial contract is worth up to $1.9 billion, but did not reveal the exact price.

Initial Contracts Now, One Moon Rover to Join NASA Mission

These initial contracts would have a maximum potential value of $4.6 billion collectively, with the winner getting massive funds from the space agency for up to 13 years of potential orders. NASA said that only one company will be given the full contract to develop the Moon rover for the Artemis mission, soon to be used by astronauts to find water, ice, and other resources there.

NASA's Moon Mission: Artemis and its Lunar Rover

Massive plans are in place for the Artemis moon mission, and it is touted as a historical venture for the United States as this would be the next crewed landing for NASA after more than 50 years. Back in November 2023, NASA delayed awarding the said initial contracts for the companies who presented their proposals, one that it recently announced earlier today with the tree aforementioned.

Preparations for NASA's Artemis mission were in place, and it is now leaning more towards commercial help from contractors like SpaceX, one that saw a delay because of the Starship, pushed further to 2026.

Among the three companies mentioned above, the space agency chose Intuitive Machines, with the Texan company known for its latest Moon landing mission, marking the first US landing since 1972.

NASA is ramping up the many deals and contracts meant for Artemis' future missions, especially with contracting the equipment and other necessities for the mission. Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab are now designing their takes on NASA's next Moon rover, with only one to be chosen for future missions, to serve Artemis astronauts and other lunar ventures.