Lune Objective for Venturi

NASA has awarded a contract to the American subsidiary of the Monegasque manufacturer Venturi for the development of the lunar vehicle for the Artemis program.

Venturi Astrolab has been entrusted with the development of the L.T.V. (Lunar Terrain Vehicle), which will enable, during future Artemis astronaut missions, the exploration of a larger part of the Moon’s surface. Named FLEX, this Rover is equipped with batteries and wheels developed by Gildo Pastor’s teams in Monaco and Switzerland.

Venturi thus takes another major step forward. The hyper-deformable wheels, developed and manufactured by Venturi’s Swiss entity in collaboration with Astrolab, were showcased at the Bourget Air Show in June 2023. As for the batteries, they will be produced in Monaco at facilities specially designed within Venturi’s historic headquarters.

From Monaco to the Moon

As required by NASA, FLEX can transport two astronauts suited up, accommodate a robotic arm for scientific exploration, handle robotic logistics for supplies, and withstand the extreme temperatures of the lunar South Pole. This represents a technological challenge, especially for the hyper-deformable wheels and batteries. FLEX can be operated remotely from Earth, even in the absence of astronauts, or by astronauts onboard.

Once FLEX arrives on the lunar surface, Astrolab aims for it to be the largest and most capable Rover ever sent to the Moon. With a combined maximum weight of over two tons (vehicle + cargo), FLEX is nearly three times heavier than its predecessor. This increased capacity opens up many more opportunities for scientific experiments and commercial activities on the Moon.

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