Lunar rovers once carried astronauts on the Moon, but since 1972, there haven’t been any humans on the surface. Now, NASA is gearing up to change that. They’re introducing new lunar rovers designed for both astronauts and autonomous operation. Recently, NASA announced two winning designs: the Crewed Lunar Vehicle (CLV-1) by Astrolab and the Pegasus by Lunar Outpost, which uses technology from General Motors and features Goodyear tires.
These rovers can each carry two astronauts and weigh about a ton. They can handle inclines up to 20 degrees, reach speeds of over 6 mph, and are expected to cost around $220 million each. Unlike earlier ambitious plans for a long-lasting lunar vehicle, the new designs focus on faster development. Jared Isaacman, NASA’s new Administrator, pushed to streamline the project, allowing for quicker approvals and testing.
The good news? Instead of waiting for an expensive vehicle to arrive in 2030, the CLV-1 and Pegasus are expected to be ready by 2028. This opens the door for NASA to learn what works and what doesn’t with these more manageable designs, paving the way for future enhancements.
Excitingly, if all goes as planned, we may witness the first human colony outside Earth during our lifetimes. NASA laid out its vision for a Moon Base, detailing a multi-year plan to establish a presence on the lunar surface. The missions to transport equipment will start soon, with Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, leading the way. Their Blue Moon Mark 1 lander will be crucial for these missions, including transporting the new lunar rovers in 2028.
NASA is still working on pinpointing the best location for the Moon Base, which will depend significantly on future equipment discoveries. The plan includes using new “hopper” drones from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to gather more information about the lunar landscape and to lay down claims on potential research areas.
This brings us to an intriguing point: NASA mentioned designating lunar territories using these drones. While international space law, particularly the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, prohibits claiming land on the Moon, NASA aims to mark areas of interest politely. They’re not claiming territory in the traditional sense; they’re simply signaling where they intend to conduct their work—a strategy that can be seen as an early form of interplanetary etiquette.
The timeline is ambitious; equipment should start landing within the year, and the next-gen rovers will follow in two years. Soon enough, astronauts will be driving these rovers on the Moon, making space exploration feel much more accessible. Over the coming years, the Moon may transform from a distant dream into a regular destination for humanity. Let’s ensure we treat it with respect as we venture into this new chapter.
For more on NASA’s lunar plans, check out the details on the New York Times.
