A multi-purpose lunar vehicle designed to deliver cargo, perform scientific investigations, and carry two astronauts has been shown off. NASA wants to establish a long-term presence on the Moon, and the California-based startup hopes it will eventually choose its concept for the Artemis program. NASA has yet to decide on a vehicle for the upcoming Artemis missions. The LTV has been designed by General GM and Lockheed Martin. We can now add the Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) rover to the list. Astrolab is staffed by former NASA and SpaceX employees. The company founded by Jaret Matthews wants to build an entire fleet of FLEX rovers to support a sustained human presence on the Moon and Mars. Instead of rolling out custom-built rovers designed for specific missions, Venturi Astrolab aims to create a highly versatile, standardized, and modular LTV that can be adapted to all sorts of different missions. It's all dependent on mobility. According to Astrolab, FLEX is capable of picking up and depositing modular payloads, which it would do in support of human operations, science, exploration, logistics, construction, and other activities critical to a sustained presence on the Moon and beyond.
Two astronauts stand at the vehicle's rear and guide it along the lunar surface, as FLEX can serve as an unpressurized rover. Multiple rovers can work together to carry even larger cargo, and the rover can carry up to 2,205 pounds of cargo. Cargo can be placed under the main deck or on top of it.
The mobility platform that we have designed is able to work in an array of transportation systems, vehicles and tools.
The ability to survive lunar nights and operate for a full decade is one of the requirements that FLEX complies with.
A robotic arm and science mast similar to NASA's Mars rovers are among the features. FLEX has a deployable solar array which will stay pointed at the Sun while it travels around the Moon.
A fully functioning prototype of FLEX has already been built. The unit was tested in the California desert for five days. Its crewed and robotic functions were evaluated and it had to traverse challenging terrain. Hadfield said it was a joy to drive FLEX but also see its size, capability and get an intuitive sense of what this rover can do.
In the coming months, NASA is expected to issue a request for LTV proposals. Other companies are also in the mix, so there is no guarantee that FLEX will be selected. NASA needs to get a lunar rover ready for the Artemis 5 mission.
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