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.
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ESA/Flight
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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. |