Australia to Build Lunar Rover in Joint Mission With NASA

An Australian-made rover will be sent to the moon as part of a collaboration between NASA and Australian Space Agency as early as 2026.

Australia has signed a deal with NASA to build a small semi-autonomous rover that will have the ability to collect lunar soils –known as regolith– and extract oxygen from the samples on the surface of Earth’s only natural satellite.

Australia’s moon mission

The country will prepare the $50-million project as part of its Moon to Mars initiative. “This is a key step towards establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon, as well as supporting future missions to Mars,” according to the statement by the Australian government.

NASA’s Artemis missions aim to land the first woman and first person of color on the moon. The US-based space agency says it will use the experience that will be gained on and around the moon for sending the first astronauts to Mars.

Obtaining oxygen from the regolith, for this purpose, plays a key role as NASA seeks to send human beings into space for long-term missions.

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A rover to be sent to the moon

Australian Space Agency head Enrico Palermo speaking to “Today” breakfast television show said: “This is lunar history for Australia. We’re going to see Australian businesses, researchers, design and build a rover that’s going to go to the moon and do some interesting science.”

“Australia is at the cutting-edge of robotics technology and systems for remote operations, which are going to be central to setting up a sustainable presence on the Moon and eventually supporting human exploration of Mars,” added Palermo.

NASA’s Nelson on the mission

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson underlined that the agreement made with Australia would serve to boost the long standing relationship between Washington and Canberra.

“By working together with the Australian Space Agency and our partners around the world, NASA will uncover more discoveries and accomplish more research through the Artemis program,” he said.

The rover weighing 20kg or less will collect lunar soils and provide them to a NASA payload.

According to Canberra Times, space-related jobs had grown to 11,560, and Australia currently has 481 organisations in the field.

Australia’s minister for science and technology, Melissa Price, said that the partnership in question will “inspire a whole new generation of young people to enter careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.”

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