NASA announced on April 3, 2024, that it has selected two companies—Lunar Outpost of Golden, Colorado, and Venturi Astrolab of Hawthorne, California—to develop the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) for the Artemis program. The contracts, valued at up to $4.6 billion combined, aim to provide a next-generation rover for astronauts exploring the Moon's south pole.
The LTV will be unpressurized, allowing astronauts to travel farther from their landing site than during the Apollo missions. It will support scientific exploration, sample collection, and infrastructure setup. The vehicles are designed to operate both with astronauts aboard and remotely when crew are not present.
NASA plans to use the LTV starting with Artemis V, currently scheduled for no earlier than 2029. The rovers will be built to withstand the harsh lunar environment, including extreme temperatures and rugged terrain. The contracts include a demonstration phase before full production.
Lunar Outpost and Venturi Astrolab will compete for task orders to provide services, including delivery to the lunar surface. The LTV is part of NASA's broader strategy to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon.
