Toyota is ready to go to the Moon

In collaboration with the Japanese space agency JAXA, Toyota is working on “lunar mobility” to support NASA’s Artemis program.

More than 50 years after the Apollo program (1961-72), which marked humanity’s first steps on the Moon, Artemis, led by NASA, aims to establish a lunar base by 2027. This long-term exploration will provide the necessary foundations for future Mars missions. Two Japanese astronauts will participate in this ambitious project.

As part of this effort, Toyota and JAXA are developing a pressurized crewed rover, the Lunar Cruiser, inspired by the adventurer spirit of the Land Cruiser. This revolutionary vehicle will need to ensure the safety of astronauts in a hostile lunar environment.

The development of this rover requires technologies capable of withstanding extreme conditions: six times less gravity than that of Earth, abrasive fine dust, and temperatures ranging from -170 to 120 °C. Recently, Toyota reached a key milestone with the first full-scale test of the Lunar Cruiser, observed by the team from Toyota Times News.

To meet these challenges, Toyota collaborates closely with Bridgestone, which designs suitable tires, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, responsible for the energy supply system. This synergy between Japanese companies illustrates a shared vision and a collective approach to push the boundaries of space mobility.

Through these joint efforts, the Lunar Cruiser is progressing towards full operational capability, symbolizing a new era of lunar exploration. Follow the evolution of this project to discover how Japanese ambitions for space are becoming a reality. A project that could push the boundaries of our galaxy, as after exploring the Moon, it will be time to turn towards Mars.

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