Lunar Cruiser is a vehicle being developed by Toyota with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to explore the surface of the Moon. The name is based on the Toyota Land Cruiser. The vehicle is scheduled to be used in the late 2020s. The vehicle would include a robotic arm for various inspection and maintenance tasks which could be changed for scooping, lifting and sweeping.[1]

JAXA and Toyota signed a joint agreement June 13, 2019 to develop a pressurized manned lunar rover. The name "Lunar Cruiser" was announced August 28, 2020.[2]

The vehicle will be about 20 feet (6.1 m) long and weigh nearly seven tons in Earth's gravity, with a gross vehicle weight rating of ten tons.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Toyota Lunar Cruiser will boldly go where no RAV4 or Camry has gone before". MSN. January 29, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2022 – via Associated Press.
  2. ^ "JAXA and Toyota Announce 'LUNAR CRUISER' As Nickname for Manned Pressurized Rover". Toyota. August 28, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  3. ^ Lin, Kelly (August 31, 2020). "The Lunar Cruiser Is Toyota's Very Real Land Cruiser for the Moon". Motor Trend. Retrieved January 30, 2022.

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