Lunar Outpost unveils sleek new 'Eagle' moon rover (photos)

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Lunar Outpost Debuts “Eagle” Moon Rover at Space Symposium

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The “Eagle” has arrived. Lunar Outpost, a Colorado-based company, recently presented its innovative “Eagle” moon rover at the Space Foundation’s 40th annual Space Symposium. The vehicle, designed for lunar surface exploration as part of the Artemis program, boasts a futuristic aesthetic with a polished metallic exterior and striking ice-blue LED illumination, attracting significant attention at this year’s expo. However, the Eagle rover offers substantial capabilities beyond its visual appeal.

Advanced Features for Artemis Program Explorers

This lunar terrain vehicle incorporates numerous functionalities tailored to the requirements of the next generation of Artemis program moon explorers. According to A.J. Gerner of Lunar Outpost, the design is heavily influenced by input from active NASA astronauts at Johnson Space Center. “We have refined our crew and human interfaces through extensive evaluations with NASA Johnson. Eight astronauts, including those in fully pressurized suits, assessed the design, and their crucial feedback is integrated throughout the vehicle,” Gerner informed Space.com.

Astronaut-Centric Design and Controls

A key feature praised by astronauts during testing is the wide and easily accessible front entrance. This design element ensures effortless entry and exit, even when wearing bulky spacesuits. The symposium model of the Eagle rover is configured with two seats for astronauts. Each seat is equipped with independent and identical controls, enabling either crew member to operate the vehicle. The steering system on each side utilizes a single handle to manage four individual motors powering each wheel. The independent wheel control allows the Eagle rover to perform pivot turns or move laterally, known as “crab walking,” according to Gerner.

Advanced Display Technology and Sensor Integration

Complementing the hand controller, each seat in the Eagle incorporates a head-level multifunction display. These screens aggregate input from onboard cameras and Lunar Outpost’s “Eagle eye” sensors. These advanced sensors can detect elements beyond human visual perception, a crucial capability for exploring permanently shadowed regions or deep craters near the moon’s south pole, areas potentially containing water ice.

“The objective is to augment the crew’s awareness,” Gerner explained, “and the displays provide all necessary data directly at their fingertips.”

Enhanced Tool Access and Sample Storage

To facilitate scientific tasks and space exploration on the lunar terrain, the Eagle includes tool compartments and temperature-controlled sample containers for the secure return of lunar specimens. Each tool locker is fitted with a shelf that elevates to chest height, providing convenient access to equipment, even for astronauts in bulky suits. Additional tool mounts and storage options can be attached to racks situated along the vehicle’s rear sides.

Related Reading:

• NASA selects 3 firms to develop lunar rover for Artemis astronauts.
• SpaceX Starship to transport Lunar Outpost’s rover to the moon.
• The Moon: Comprehensive information about Earth’s satellite.

Autonomous Operation and Mission Timeline

Beyond astronaut-driven missions, the Eagle is engineered for autonomous operation or remote control from Earth. This versatility enables lunar surface exploration even in the absence of astronauts on the moon.

Lunar Outpost aims to deploy Eagle to the moon by the end of the decade to support NASA’s Artemis 5 mission. However, the rover is currently competing against designs from Intuitive Machines and Venturi Astrolab in NASA’s selection process for its next “lunar terrain vehicle.”

The potential total value of the lunar terrain vehicle services contract is estimated at $4.6 billion.