a new electric vehicle for lunar exploration

 

london-based company XTEND design unveils LUNIAQ, a concept of an electric lunar vehicle for up to four astronauts, inspired by the design of skoda SUV cars. the rover was presented during the czech space week, in virtuplex, the largest virtual reality laboratory in europe, where guests were able to walk on the moon in the life-size simulation of a virtual lunar base. 

 

the chief designer of LUNIAQ is space architect tomas rousek of XTEND design, who previously worked on concepts of missions to the moon, mars and asteroids at NASA JPL. he also collaborated on architecture for olympic games in rio, FIFA championship in qatar, and european space greenhouse experiment EDEN-ISS which included prototype testing in antarctic.

electric lunar rover LUNIAQ unveiled by XTEND design in europe's largest VR laboratory
LUNIAQ is the new lunar rover concept by XTEND design

all images courtesy of XTEND design

 

 

based on NASA’s multi-mission space exploration vehicle

 

‘sustainable development could enable us to keep progressing forward and extend the biosphere to other places in space,’ shares tom rousek of XTEND design (find more here). ‘we would like to inspire people on how we could continue to progressively develop our technologies and one day live and drive in places other than earth. (…)the new era of electric mobility could continue across the entire solar system and beyond,’ he adds.

 

the technical solution of the LUNIAQ rover is based on NASA’s MMSEV (multi-mission space exploration vehicle). the cabin can accommodate up to four astronauts, depending on the length of the mission. the vehicle would also be capable of autonomous and remote operation. there are two hatches on its sides, allowing the connection to the space modules of the moon base. at the rear, the rover features a ‘suitport’ covered by a hinged door which reveals two spacesuits attached to the outside of the vehicle. this solution allows astronauts to crawl directly into their spacesuits and prevents harmful lunar dust from entering the cabin.

electric lunar rover LUNIAQ unveiled by XTEND design in europe's largest VR laboratory
at the rear, the rover features a ‘suitport’ covered by a hinged door which reveals two spacesuits attached to the outside of the vehicle

 

 

luniaq’s design draws influence from skoda’s ENYAQ

 

the design of the front of the car is inspired by skoda ENYAQ. large windows are built of transparent aluminium which is more resistant to micrometeorites than glass. additional radiation protection is provided by polyethylene layers. the bottom front window allows drivers to watch the terrain directly in front of the car. above it, there are stereoscopic cameras to scan the terrain and for 3D imaging to enable the remote and autonomous control of the car. large soft wheels would offer comfortable driving on bumpy lunar surface thanks to michelin’s tweel technology.

 

the electrical power is stored in solid-state batteries that can be charged by means of ultraflex solar panels on the roof. the solar panels can unfold into a fan shape and allow charging while standing or driving slowly. the roof area accommodates also radiators for cooling down during lunar day and antennas for communication with the lunar base, earth, orbital stations, and other satellites.

electric lunar rover LUNIAQ unveiled by XTEND design in europe's largest VR laboratory

 

 

XTEND design reveals ‘new prague’ prefab 3D printed lunar base

 

apart from the reveal of LUNIAQ, XTEND design also presented the new prague lunar base with the help of the high-tech VR facilities of the virtuplex lab. the idea for ‘new prague’ comes from from concepts of global moon village by XTEND design and space architecture research of tomas rousek at NASA JPL.

 

the settlement would consist of prefabricated, 3D printed, and inflatable modules, supported by solar power systems, launch pads, and other infrastructure. large robots would print modules using lunar regolith hardened by microwave sintering. radiation shielding would be also robotically assembled from solar-sintered bricks. greenhouses would provide not only food but also recycle air and water in a closed-loop bioregenerative life-support system.electric lunar rover LUNIAQ unveiled by XTEND design in europe's largest VR laboratory

xtend design unveils lunar rover luniaq and new prague on the moon in europes largest vr laboratory 8

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project info:

 

name: lunar rover LUNIAQ and new prague on the moon
designer: XTEND design
design team: tomas rousek, katarina eriksson, yan bilobrovenko, vittorio rossetti, veronika rabas

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom