Spaceflight

ESA to undertake lunar rover study

By Rob Coppinger

The European Space Agency is offering €500,000 ($786,500) for a pressurised lunar rover (PLR) phase 0/A study to produce a conceptual design, to evaluate its functional, technical and operational requirements and determine its likely cost and development schedule. The closing date for proposals is 14 May.

ESA envisages a rover with a mass from 5,000kg (11,000lb) to 14,000kg that would only be delivered by NASA's Altair lunar lander.

ESA/Flight
Above: This walking lunar rover concept is from a 2002 ESA student workshop. The use of legs is considered a way of disturbing less Moon dust during locomotion.