We can't help but think that it looks like a giant baby stroller, and that it is meant to ferry astronauts across the surface of the Moon and even Mars.
It is unclear if the Flexible Logistics and Exploration will make it to the Moon in time for NASA's upcoming crewed mission there, but it is an inspiring look at what interplanetary transportation could one day look like. It is a far cry from the spartan-looking lunar buggies driven by astronauts during the Apollo days.
The FLEX rover can be adapted to carry crews of astronauts around.
The prototype was tested in the California desert near Death Valley. Chris Hadfield took the rover for a stroll, advising the company on the vehicle's design.
The prototype had to be built robustly to make up for Earth's gravity, but the final design is intended to be just 1,100 pounds.
Astrolab CEO Jaret Matthews told The Verge that they want the hardware to be robust so that they don't have to worry about it.
The company has a lot of ambitions.
He said that they want to be theUPS, FedEx, and the Moon.
Astrolab wants to get in on the ground floor of interplanetary transportation.
Matthews said in a press release that there needs to be an efficient and economical transportation network from the launch pad to the ultimate outpost.
There is a gap in the last mile and Astrolab exists to fill it.
The new modular lunar rover is for carrying people and cargo on the moon.
China says a Rover discovered Glass Spheres on the Dark Side of the Moon.
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