NASA Updates Moon Base Rover Progress: Two Prototypes Head to Tire Testing, Supporting Up to Three Moonwalks per Mission
NASA on October 20 updated progress on its Moon base rovers through episode 2 of its "Moon Base, The Series" program and official channels. In the first phase, robotic rovers will map the lunar south pole region, and the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) will then extend the range of each Artemis mission.
Two companies are building prototypes: Astrolab's CLV-1, derived from its FLEX architecture, and Lunar Outpost's Pegasus, a lightweight version of its Eagle rover. Published specifications include a range of up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) per charge, up to 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) of teleoperated driving per day, capacity for up to 80 kilograms (176 pounds) of samples and tools, and support for up to three moonwalks per Artemis mission.
Astronauts wearing Artemis spacesuits have evaluated the vehicles: the CLV-1 prototype has been delivered to Axiom Space, and a third static Pegasus unit was delivered to Johnson Space Center for pressurized-suit testing. Within weeks, both prototypes will go to the SLOPE laboratory at Glenn Research Center for tire testing; the CLV-1 uses airless flexible wheels and Pegasus uses spring-mesh tires. Astrolab's robotic FLIP rover will fly on the Griffin Mission One mission, planned for late 2026. Robert Pickle, director of NASA's Surface Mobility Office, called the rovers central to the agency's surface mobility strategy.
(Based on NASA's official release)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 阿尔忒弥斯二号任务宇航员资料图。图：美国航天局（NASA），公共领域。 / File photo: the Artemis II crew. NASA, public domain.
