NASA announced the development of a lunar exploration vehicle to aid scientific research during the Artemis campaign on the Moon and in preparation for human missions to Mars. Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, expressed anticipation for the vehicle’s role in advancing lunar exploration and enhancing astronauts’ ability to conduct research on the lunar surface.
The vehicle, scheduled for use during Artemis V, will operate remotely between missions to support scientific objectives and may also engage in commercial lunar activities. NASA aims to utilize the vehicle to access remote locations and facilitate new scientific discoveries during the Artemis missions, which will include the first woman, first person of color, and first international partner astronaut to explore the Moon.