Lunar outpost co leads Australia's first lunar rover initiative

Lunar outpost co leads Australia's first lunar rover initiative
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 18, 2024

Lunar Outpost announced today that its Australian branch, Lunar Outpost Oceania, will lead efforts in constructing Australia's first lunar rover. The project, awarded to the ELO2 Consortium, is jointly led by Lunar Outpost Oceania and EPE Oceania.

Following an 18-month preliminary design phase, the ELO2 Consortium was selected to design, build, and operate the Australian-made rover on the lunar surface. This initiative, funded by the Australian Government via the Australian Space Agency, marks a significant step in Australia's integration into the international space exploration community.

The lunar rover, dubbed "Roo-ver" through a public naming campaign, is a milestone achievement for Lunar Outpost Oceania. Operating from its Melbourne headquarters, the team has successfully developed four prototype rovers in just 15 months. Each prototype tested key architectural decisions, underscoring the group's technical expertise and ability to deliver reliable, cost-efficient lunar mobility solutions.

"This award is a testament to the incredible work of our team in Australia," said Joseph Kenrick, Program Manager of Lunar Outpost Oceania. "It showcases not only the collaborative potential of the ELO2 Consortium but also Australia's strengths in autonomous systems and remote operations dating back to the Apollo era. This isn't just a mission for the Moon; it's a mission to build Australia's presence in space."

As Lunar Outpost's fourth contracted lunar mission, the project further solidifies the company's leadership in planetary surface mobility. Insights from each mission will shape future programs, such as Lunar Outpost's Lunar Terrain Vehicle initiative for NASA. This program envisions a robust and scalable "Space Truck" designed to support infrastructure development and lay the foundation for a sustainable human presence in space.

"Lunar Outpost is pushing the boundaries of space exploration and revolutionizing surface mobility on the Moon and Mars," said Justin Cyrus, CEO of Lunar Outpost. "In this new era of space, bolstered by global collaboration, we are proud to play a pivotal role - advancing our vision through international partnerships, supporting diverse missions, and growing our capabilities globally. We are looking forward to working with the Australian Space Agency, NASA and our partners on this historic lunar mission."