In 2030, about six years from now, American astronauts will return to the surface of the moon. When they land, theyâll face the same challenge as millions of freshly licensed teenagers the world over: Theyâll need a sweet ride.
The lunar mission, called Artemis V, is slated to send two astronauts to the lunar surface to conduct six days of science experiments at the moonâs south pole. To do the job, NASA is commissioning them a set of wheelsâemphasis on wheels.
This spring, NASA announced that three groups had been selected to carry out year-long studies of what it will take to develop a Lunar Terrain Vehicle, or LTV. The groups, two of which are a consortium of companies, included two tire companies: Goodyear and Michelin. The other competitor, Venturi Astrolab, has debuted its own lunar wheel design.
The contract finalist will likely be announced in about a year,…
