JAXA (Japan Aerospace Agency) and Toyota Motor Corporation recently announced the name of the pressurized lunar vehicle on which they are conducting joint research.
It will be called the "LUNAR CRUISER." The vehicle will take advantage of fuel cell electric motor technologies.
The nickname LUNAR CRUISER was chosen as a reference to the Toyota Land Cruiser, familiar to the public and synonymous with quality, durability and reliability.
The peculiarity of the Lunar Cruiser is that it is equipped with a living cell: in short, it is not a radio-controlled vehicle but, on board, it will have its own crew.
JAXA (Japan Aerospace Agency) and Toyota Motor Corporation recently announced the name of the pressurized lunar vehicle on which they are conducting joint research. It will be called the "LUNAR CRUISER." The vehicle will take advantage of fuel cell electric motor technologies.
The moniker LUNAR CRUISER was chosen as a reference to the Toyota Land Cruiser, a vehicle that is meant for people to "adorn back safe and sound." Elements that are also intended to be recreated for the lunar vehicle, especially in view of the fact that it will face the difficult journey to the lunar surface.
The peculiarity of the Lunar Cruiser is that it is equipped with a living cell: in short, it is not a radio-controlled vehicle but, on board, it will have its own crew.
General Motors, on the other hand, is working with Lockheed Martin to create a lunar prototype called Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) that looks like a futuristic pickup truck
JAXA and Toyota will harness the knowledge, experience and technological capabilities from companies from different industries and part of "Team Japan" to realize the dream of supporting continuous activities on the Moon.