As Artemis approaches, the first manned lunar mission to the moon in more than 50 years, NASA recently revealed details of its new futuristic vehicle that will take astronauts to the launch pad, as well as its equipment.
Developed by American start-up Canoo, this car, which still doesn’t have an official name, is 100% electric, carbon-free and cocoon-shaped. Three units will be produced and ready by June 2023, when the first tests will take place.
The idea is that they will be able to carry a complete astronaut on a 12km journey from Neil Armstrong Operations Center to Launch Pad 39B.
The manned Artemis mission shouldn’t start until 2024. Before that, NASA must make two exploratory missions, without astronauts, to our satellite—one of which will even launch later this year.
In addition to celebrating humanity’s return to the Moon, NASA will be bringing the first woman and first black person to our natural satellite.
According to NASA, the Canoo electric vehicle will replace the Astrovan fleet, a silver-colored vehicle developed in 1983 that transports astronauts to the space shuttle.
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Astrovans at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida (USA) with astronauts from the Atlantis mission
Photo: NASA/Corey Heston
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In the final manned mission launched from US soil, astronauts are transported in Tesla vehicles to the launch pad. At every turn, the rocket has been developed by SpaceX – both companies founded by South African billionaire Elon Musk.
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