Toyota and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) greenlit a project to develop a Land Cruiser-inspired rover for use on the moon and Mars. After years of research and testing, engineers have officially begun development for the Lunar Cruiser.
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The Lunar Cruiser is a fuel-cell-powered mobile laboratory complete with living quarters, workstations, and cutting-edge scientific instruments. Additionally, the Japanese robotics startup company Gitai Japan Inc. will assist in developing an exterior robotic arm for the vehicle. The arm will be able to alternate between different tools to perform monitoring and maintenance tasks. Further, the pressurized rover is said to have a lunar-surface cruising range of over 10,000 kilometers. Additional specifics about the architecture of the Cruiser are still tightly under wraps.
Takao Sato, the lead of the project, had this to say in a news release:
“We see space as an area for our once-in-a-century transformation. By going to space, we may be able to develop telecommunications and other technology that will prove valuable to human life.”
Sato goes on to say that the Lunar Cruiser will provide a space for people to safely live, work, and communicate with others while on the moon. Toyota expects the vehicle to launch at the end of the decade. For their partnership with JAXA, Toyota says successful deployment on Mars is the ultimate goal.
You can watch Toyota’s official Pressurized Rover Movie in the player above. Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section below! Lastly, The Porsche Taycan Now Holds World Record for Cross-Country Charge Time.
