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Astrobotic has been awarded a contract by Thales Alenia Space to develop the Lunar Wheel for the Italian Space Agency’s Multi-Purpose Habitation Mobility System
| Astrobotic today announced its award of a contract from Thales Alenia Space (JV between Thales 67% and Leonardo 33%) to develop a lunar wheel assembly solution for the Multi-Purpose Habitation (MPH). MPH is an Italian Space Agency (ASI) program, developed in partnership with NASA as a core element of the Artemis architecture, designed to allow astronauts to live on the lunar surface to conduct science experiments and test initial habitability.Last year Thales Alenia Space signed a contract with the Italian Space Agency to perform the preliminary design phase, including development of critical enabling technologies, of the pressurized Multi-Purpose Habitation (MPH) module for the lunar surface.As part of the development of these technologies, Astrobotic will focus on the development of the wheel system in support of the long-term human surface operations at the lunar south pole and reflects close collaboration between U.S. and European partners working toward a sustained human presence on the Moon.Astrobotic’s Wheel Assembly is designed to help the MPH move reliably across the Moon’s uneven and challenging terrain. The wheel combines durable structural elements with flexible features that allow it to adapt to different surface conditions. The design uses lightweight tensioned cables to connect the hub to the rim, reducing overall mass while maintaining strength. Flexible tread elements allow the wheel to better conform to the lunar surface, improving traction and reducing wear over time. This balanced approach provides strong grip when climbing slopes or crossing loose soil, while also allowing smooth and efficient movement during normal driving, all while keeping weight as low as possible to meet program requirements. |
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Image Credit: Astrobotic |
| “For more than 16 years, Astrobotic has been focused on enabling mobility on the Moon, developing the systems needed to move, work, and operate reliably in one of the most challenging environments imaginable,” said Robert Rolley, Astrobotic’s Systems Architect.The wheel design builds on Astrobotic’s prior lunar mobility work, including wheels developed for the company’s Astrobotic Mobility Platform (AMP) rover. That development experience is being applied and scaled to meet the size, loading, reliability, and service life requirements of the MPH. The wheel system must perform reliably over a 10-year mission and the full driving distance expected for the habitation module as it operates on the lunar surface.The wheel system is also designed with the extreme lunar environment in mind. Special materials and design features help limit heat loss from the vehicle during operations in shadowed regions near the lunar south pole, reducing the amount of power needed to keep critical systems warm. The wheel is engineered to withstand conditions over the full mission lifecycle, including launch, transit, landing, and long-term exposure to the Moon’s temperature extremes, radiation, dust, and surface conditions.Astrobotic will apply its established engineering and verification processes to deliver a design which is expected to evolve to a reliable flight-ready system.”This program highlights the strength of international cooperation in lunar exploration,” said an Astrobotic spokesperson. “By combining Astrobotic’s experience in lunar mobility with Thales Alenia Space Italia’s leadership in habitation systems, we are contributing to a shared vision for long-duration operations on the Moon.”The Wheel Assembly solution represents another step forward in enabling safe, reliable mobility for future lunar infrastructure through strong partnerships between industry leaders across borders. |
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Image Credit: Astrobotic |
| Image: The team of rovers used the DALEC technology to correct localization drift of simulated raw visual-inertial odometry. With accurate, real-time knowledge of their current location, the rovers can work more efficiently to build the protective wall (berm). |
| About Astrobotic Astrobotic is at the forefront of advancing space exploration and technology development. Our expertise spans from lunar spacecraft, navigation, and delivery to lunar infrastructure and suborbital rockets. To date, the company has been contracted for two lunar missions, and has won more than 60 NASA, DoD, and commercial technology contracts worth more than $650 million. Astrobotic recently launched and operated the first American lunar lander mission since the Apollo Program. Beyond helping lead America back to the Moon, the company develops and operates reusable vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) rockets and advanced rocket engines. Established in 2007, Astrobotic is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, with a propulsion and test campus in Mojave, CA.www.astrobotic.com |
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