Toyota/JAXA Lunar Cruiser (Artemis program lunar rover)

[Nerroth]

Apologies in advance if this has been discussed elsewhere, but I was wondering if there was anyone here keeping an eye on the current Lunar Cruiser project, currently being undertaken by Toyota and by JAXA?

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It's being developed as part of the broader Artemis program; the first test run here on Earth took place in late 2024:

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The goal is for first deployment to the Moon in the early 2030s.

Or, if you can't wait that long, there is a... smaller version you can get a hold of, which you might find to be more... than meets the eye!

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Pity there's no lander, Gateway or Exploration Upper Stage. SpaceX is going nowhere fast and its ridiculously tall lander would probably tip over even if they could develop the LEO refueling technology and launch all the rockets required just to get it to Gateway. I think China will beat the US in putting men on the Moon again. Whether they'll bother to stay remains to be seen. I'm not sure it's worth sending anything other than AI and robots to explore and exploit the Solar System.

 

[publiusr]

Here is what responsible, Elon-free space exploration should look like:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399883556_Six_Future_Deep_Space_Exploration_Missions_Enabled_by_The_NASA_Space_Launch_System

See the lander on Figure 26.

The tech-bros can have LEO.

The grown-ups should be in charge of BEO (Beyond Earth Orbit).

 

[Dukhat]

Pity there's no lander, Gateway or Exploration Upper Stage. SpaceX is going nowhere fast and its ridiculously tall lander would probably tip over even if they could develop the LEO refueling technology and launch all the rockets required just to get it to Gateway.

That's funny; I had an argument about this very same thing with some sheep on Reddit. I even used the last two Intuitive Machines landers as examples of spacecraft that are too tall to be able to land correctly on the lunar surface without the very high probability that they will tip over. Said sheep didn't think I knew what I was talking about despite the absolute proof I gave that this was problematic.

I think China will beat the US in putting men on the Moon again. Whether they'll bother to stay remains to be seen. I'm not sure it's worth sending anything other than AI and robots to explore and exploit the Solar System.

The thing most people don't understand about the CLEP is that China is not in a 'race' to see who gets to the Moon first. They could care less if the US gets there before them either with Blue Moon or Stupidship. But yes, I agree that China will most likely get there first.

 

[publiusr]

That's funny; I had an argument about this very same thing with some sheep on Reddit. I even used the last two Intuitive Machines landers as examples

Sounds like an individual known as Nate.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Preventing something from tipping over in a gravitational field is hardly a difficult problem in control theory. It's surprising that it becomes a matter of controversy.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Congress demands answers from SpaceX and Blue Origin, apparently:

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[publiusr]

Jared actually sounds like Mike Griffin now…in talking about NASA needing in-house competency.

The NewSpacers are having fits over this.