Japan Focuses on Space Exploration: Progress with LUNAR CRUISER Spacecraft Development
The LUNAR CRUISER, a groundbreaking crewed pressurized lunar rover, is being developed by a collaboration between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Toyota for exploration on the Moon's surface. This project is set to be delivered during NASA's Artemis program, with the first lunar deployment expected on Artemis VII, currently scheduled for March 2032.
The LUNAR CRUISER, approximately the size of two microbuses, boasts a cabin of around 7 square meters, providing astronauts with the ability to explore the moon's surface without the need for extravehicular suits for extended periods. Atsushi Nakajima, Project Manager at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Space Systems Division, and Fumiya Tsutsui, Technical Director of the JAXA Space Exploration Center, are leading the development of this innovative vehicle.
Toyota is supporting the LUPEX rover project, a lunar surface water explorer, through automated driving and other technologies cultivated for earth-bound vehicles. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is working closely with Toyota on system-level development for the LUNAR CRUISER, not just the provision of individual components. The joint research between Toyota and JAXA was completed in 2022.
The LUPEX rover, scheduled for launch in the mid-2020s, will search for water resources on the moon's surface. Data acquired from the moon's surface by the LUPEX rover will contribute to the development of the crewed pressurized rover. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is also developing the Kounotori cargo transporter for delivering supplies to the space station.
The preliminary development phase for the LUNAR CRUISER began in 2024. The pressurized rover can also carry out various uncrewed activities and is being developed for the Artemis program, enabling two astronauts to move around and explore for 30 days. The LUNAR CRUISER offers mobility and habitability, enabling astronauts to move around and explore the moon's surface for extended periods.
The LUNAR CRUISER project is a "Team Japan" endeavor, backed by numerous Japanese companies with advanced technologies. Ken Yamashita heads Toyota's Lunar Exploration Mobility Works Project, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is involved in the development of the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo for the International Space Station.
The Artemis program, the primary driver for sending crew and assets like the LUNAR CRUISER to the lunar surface, is a significant step towards human exploration beyond Earth's orbit. With the LUNAR CRUISER, astronauts will be able to venture further and stay longer on the moon's surface, paving the way for future lunar colonies and space exploration.
The collaboration between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Toyota in the development of the LUNAR CRUISer isn't limited to the provision of individual components, as they are also working together on system-level development, incorporating technology from Toyota's lunar surface water explorer, the LUPEX rover. The LUNAR CRUISER, due for delivery during NASA's Artemis program, will utilize technology to offer mobility and habitability for astronauts to explore the moon's surface for extended periods, which aligns with the program's objective of human exploration beyond Earth's orbit, paving the way for future lunar colonies and space exploration.
