Astrolab Selected to Provide Lunar Rover Advancing Lunar Exploration

Astrolab, together with teammates Axiom Space, Interlune and Odyssey Space Research, were selected by NASA as one of two providers of a crewed lunar rover for the Artemis program, advancing the agency’s plans to establish sustained surface mobility at the lunar south pole.

“Axiom Space is proud to support Astrolab and NASA as we return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years,” said Russell Ralston, senior vice president, spacecraft development, Axiom Space. “Our EVA team brings deep experience in spacesuit integration, crew displays and controls, tool design, operations and human systems engineering to help ensure the Crewed Lunar Vehicle (CLV-1) can support astronauts when they conduct science and exploration on the Moon.”

The award follows NASA’s “Ignition” announcement revising the agency’s approach to lunar surface mobility, calling for industry to deliver smaller rovers on an accelerated timeline. In response, Astrolab adapted its FLEX rover architecture to develop a new vehicle known as the Crewed Lunar Vehicle, or CLV-1. Like FLEX, CLV-1 is designed to support astronaut operations and science activities on the Moon.

Consistent with NASA’s requirements, CLV-1 is designed primarily to transport astronauts and their supplies, rather than carry external payloads like other Astrolab rovers. The rover also can conduct certain surface operations remotely. When stowed on a Commercial Lunar Payload Services lander for delivery to the Moon, CLV-1 measures approximately 2 meters long, 2.3 meters wide, and 2.2 meters tall. Once deployed on the lunar surface, CLV-1 will measure approximately 4 meters long by 2.3 meters wide, with a height of about 2.6 meters to the top of its antenna. It has a maximum mass of 950 kilograms and can reach speeds of 10 kilometers per hour on level ground. CLV-1 is the first in Astrolab’s planned CLV line, with future vehicles expected to be designated CLV-2, CLV-3 and so on.

This award empowers the collaborative team to provide astronauts with advanced capabilities to conduct more scientific discovery on the Moon than ever before. Under the award, Astrolab and its teammates Axiom Space, Interlune and Odyssey Space Research will deliver CLV-1 and related services capable of supporting crewed and robotic surface missions. CLV-1 uses the same tires, batteries, and battery management system developed for prior Astrolab rovers by Astrolab’s strategic partner, Venturi Space.

Since unveiling the full-scale working prototype of the FLEX rover in 2022, Astrolab has conducted thousands of hours of lab and field testing, demonstrating crewed and telerobotic operations, payload deployment, and mobility performance in challenging terrain. CLV-1 draws on that FLEX heritage while reflecting NASA’s revised requirements for the next phase of Artemis surface mobility.

Axiom Space, the sole spacesuit provider for NASA, is leading the way in EVA expertise as the developer of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) supporting astronauts on the lunar south pole. These innovative spacesuits will provide astronauts with increased flexibility, greater protection, and longer EVA time to expand exploration on the lunar surface.

To ensure the integration of the AxEMU with the lunar rover, Axiom Space and Astrolab engineers executed multiple design iterations – systems engineering, operations, human integration – advancing rover display, control interfaces, tool and sample stowage. The engineering teams conducted numerous integrated tests including pressurized crewed tests of the AxEMU and lunar rover.

This next-gen spacesuit and lunar rover will enable the future of human space exploration, advancing knowledge of low-Earth orbit, the Moon, and beyond. For more information on the AxEMU, visit axiomspace.com/axiom-suit.