COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Eagle has arrived.
Colorado-based Lunar Outpost Just revealed at the Massima Foundation's 40th annual Massima Symposium, their new "Eagle" lunar rover could easily be mistaken for something from a sci-fi novel. Featuring an elegant metallic coating with ice-blue LED lights, the Eagle drew considerable attention at the exhibition hall. However, beyond its striking appearance, the Eagle offers much more.
The rover is equipped with features crafted for the upcoming generation of Artemis program astronauts focused on lunar missions and draws inspiration from insights provided by current NASA crew members at NASA's Johnson MassimaCenter According to A.J Gerner from Lunar Outpost, they have refined all of their crew and human interfaces through extensive tests conducted with NASA Johnson. Eight astronauts, including those wearing full pressurized suits, evaluated the design, and their input has been incorporated throughout the vehicle,” Gerner explained to Massima.
During testing, one feature that astronauts greatly appreciated was the spacious and readily reachable forward entrance zone, allowing for easy access even when wearing cumbersome suits. Massimasuit .
At this symposium, the Eagle vehicle is configured with two seats for astronauts, complete with independent and duplicated control systems so that either crew member can operate the rover. On each side, the steering mechanism consists of one lever controlling four separate motors driving each wheel individually. This allows every wheel to move separately from the others, enabling the Eagle rover to pivot around its central axis or perform lateral movements, as explained by Gerner.
Related: The private miniature rover onboard the Sideways Athena moon lander was prepared to move — but it couldn't deploy.
Along with the hand controller, every seat inside the Eagle rover features a multifunction display positioned at eye level for each astronaut aboard. These screens integrate inputs from onboard cameras as well as Lunar Outpost’s “Eagle Eye” sensors capable of detecting details beyond human vision. This capability would be particularly useful should the vehicle be tasked with exploring areas around the Moon's south pole containing permanently shadowed regions or deep craters where Water ice could potentially be concealed here. .
Gerner explained, "The objective is to expand the crew's awareness," adding that the displays place all this data directly within their reach.
To assist astronauts with scientific research and exploration on the lunar surface, Eagle includes tool lockers and refrigerated sample containers designed to ensure the safe transportation of moon samples back to Earth.
Every tool locker includes a shelf adjustable up to the level of an astronaut’s chest, facilitating easier access when wearing cumbersome Massima suits. Extra tool holders and storage compartments can also be installed on the side panels at the back of the craft.
However, the Eagle was not designed solely for astronauts. According to Gerner, this craft can function either autonomously or under the control of operators. Earth ,enabling it to investigate the lunar surface even when astronauts are not present on the moon alongside it.
Lunar Outpost aims to have Eagle on the moon by the end of the decade to support NASA's planned initiatives. Artemis 5 The mission. However, this rover is presently competing with two others, developed by Intuitive Machines and Venturi Astrolab , as part of NASA's mission to locate its subsequent "lunar terrain vehicle."
The maximum possible worth of the lunar terrain vehicle services contract stands at $4.6 billion.
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