Northrop Grumman to Design Lunar Surface Transportation Vehicle

Northrop Grumman Leads Team to Develop Lunar Terrain Vehicle

Northrop Grumman, a leading aerospace company, is spearheading a collaborative effort with AVL, Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Michelin to engineer a vehicle for transporting Artemis astronauts across the lunar surface.

This Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) is poised to become a crucial asset in the exploration of the lunar south pole, a region that remains uncharted territory for human explorers.

Team Expertise and Roles

Northrop Grumman will take the lead in systems integration and overall spacecraft design. Each partner contributes specialized expertise, indicating their likely areas of focus within the LTV’s development.

• AVL specializes in the development and testing of vehicle powertrains, alongside advanced driver-assistance and autonomous systems.
• Intuitive Machines brings valuable experience in payload delivery, demonstrated through its Nova-D spacecraft.
• Lunar Outpost is actively developing unmanned rovers designed for operation in off-world environments.
• Michelin, a global company based in France, has a prior history of collaboration with NASA, specifically in the creation of tires for earlier lunar rovers.

Anticipating NASA’s Request for Proposals

The team is preparing to submit their design in response to an upcoming request for proposals (RFP) from NASA. This process mirrors the one used to select the lunar lander under the Human Landing System contract.

While the official RFP has not yet been released, Northrop Grumman anticipates its arrival in early next year, as confirmed by a company spokesperson to TechCrunch.

NASA’s Requirements for the LTV

Even prior to the formal contract solicitation, NASA has initiated a request for information to guide the vehicle’s development. Documents released by the agency outline key performance indicators for potential bids.

These include the ability to travel up to 20 kilometers across the lunar surface on a single charge, potential for surviving the harsh conditions of an extended lunar night, and a payload capacity of at least 800 kilograms.

Projected Launch and Artemis Program Alignment

NASA currently projects the launch of the LTV around 2027. This timeline suggests the vehicle will be deployed after the Artemis program is fully operational.

Recent announcements from NASA indicate a postponement of the first crewed mission under the Artemis program to 2025, marking the return of humans to the moon after a decades-long hiatus.