Tech Toyota's Lunar Cruiser to join NASA moon mission

The "Lunar Cruiser," a vehicle crafted by several companies and organisations, including Toyota Motor, for astronaut lunar travel, is poised to be part of the U.S.-spearheaded initiative to rekindle human lunar exploration. NASA's Artemis program aims to dispatch two Japanese astronauts to the moon, which could elevate Japan's stature within a prospective profitable lunar commerce sector. These developments were officially announced during a period marked by heightened interactions surrounding a summit in Washington, where Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden affirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral space exploration efforts.

Toyota is working with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to develop the Lunar Cruiser by 2031. The vehicle will function like a "camping car on the moon," allowing astronauts to stay inside without spacesuits due to its controlled air pressure. The second Japanese astronaut to land on the moon, expected in 2032, will operate the vehicle. The Lunar Cruiser, which is expected to be able to carry two astronauts up to 20 kilometers a day, will work on tasks such as surveying soil and underground resources in areas near the moon's south pole over a period of about a month. The developers are aiming for an operating life of about 10 years, with a total travel distance of around 100,000 kilometers. Toyota is providing technology for batteries that generate hydrogen using sunlight and for tires that can run on fine lunar sand.

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In February 2023, JAXA selected Makoto Suwa and Ayu Yoneda as new astronaut candidates for the manned moon mission. Both are expected to be officially appointed as astronauts as early as this November and are seen as favourites for the moon trip.

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