The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Toyota have named the large moon rover which they are jointly developing the “LUNAR CRUISER”.
With obvious reference the Toyota Land Cruiser they say the name reflects the quality and durability that is associated with their earthly vehicle.
In order to achieve the travel demands of a future lunar surface-based society, the vehicle is enclosed and pressurised and is starting to look more like a recreational vehicle rather than the dune buggy appearance of the first lunar rover.
It will be six-wheel drive and powered by a hydrogen fuel cell driving electric motors with a range they hope of 10,000 kms.
An expected launch date is not till the latter half of the 2020s.
I’m David Brown
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