The partly Luxembourg-based tire manufacturing giant joins the American global security and aerospace company to design vehicle tires designed for future lunar projects.
Having supplied NASA’s Appollo programme with essential products over 50 years ago already, Goodyear strengthens its longstanding ties to space innovation. By joining Lockheed Martin in its development of a lunar mobility vehicle, especially focusing on lunar vehicle tires, Goodyear continues its relationship with NASA.
“NASA’s Artemis program to live and work on the Moon has a clear need for lunar surface transportation that we intend to meet with vehicles driven by astronauts or operated autonomously without crew,” said Kirk Shireman, vice president of Lunar Exploration Campaigns at Lockheed Martin.
This new generation of lunar vehicles will be not only available to NASA but also to commercial companies and even other space agencies. Goodyear is drawing on its expertise in airless tire technology already used on Earth with micro-mobility, autonomous shuttles and passenger vehicles to develop this exciting project.
“Everything we learn from making tires for the Moon’s extremely difficult operating environment will help us make better airless tires on Earth,” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, Global Operations and Chief Technology Officer at Goodyear. “
While Apollo rovers were built to last only a few days, future lunar vehicles will have to traverse much longer distances and operate in greater temperature extremes. Indeed, tire capabilities will need to be developed for years of durability and even survive the night that sees temperatures of below -250 degrees Fahrenheit and daytime temps of over 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
The companies expect to have their first vehicle on the surface of the Moon in time to support NASA’s first landed mission that will have the first woman and first person of colour walk on the Moon, currently planned for 2025.
