NASA's upcoming moon vehicle could potentially feature wheels designed by you, through the 'Rock and Roll Challenge' initiative
NASA is inviting innovators from around the world to take part in the Rock and Roll Challenge, an exciting competition aimed at designing the next generation of wheels for lunar exploration. Hosted by Hero, this challenge is a significant part of NASA's broader push to engage the public in solving real-world technology problems.
The technical and performance criteria for the next-generation lunar wheel designs emphasize lightweight, flexible, durable wheels capable of operating reliably on the Moon’s harsh terrain. Specifically, NASA seeks wheels that:
- Have low mass to enable efficient mobility and payload transport.
- Offer high compliance, meaning excellent shock absorption to handle impacts at speeds up to 15 mph over rocky, cratered, and dusty lunar surfaces.
- Demonstrate long service life despite exposure to extreme temperatures, abrasive lunar regolith (ultra-fine, sharp dust), low gravity (one-sixth of Earth’s), and rugged terrain including boulders and steep inclines.
- Use innovative materials and mechanical designs that outperform traditional rigid and wire-mesh wheels (such as those on Apollo missions) by providing flexibility, resistance to tearing or clogging, and durability over sustained, long-duration Artemis missions.
- Be scalable or adaptable in size and manufacturing, enabling the same design principles to apply to different rover sizes without major re-tooling.
- Function effectively with NASA’s MicroChariot Rover testbed, which will evaluate prototypes for speed and robustness.
The goal is to improve rover mobility beyond the capabilities of previous lunar wheels by combining flexibility, toughness, and long lifespan in extreme space environments.
More than 150 innovators have already signed up to participate in the Rock and Roll Challenge. The new wheels and tires developed through this challenge will be essential for a variety of equipment in the Artemis missions, including Lightweight Transport Vehicles, robotic rovers, cargo haulers, autonomous vehicles, and specialized equipment.
Subsequent Artemis missions aim to build lunar bases and conduct extensive surface exploration. One of the key missions, Artemis III, plans to land astronauts near the lunar south pole. The 1st American robotic lunar rover, Endurance, is set to land on the moon today, demonstrating the importance of robust and reliable lunar wheels. Endurance is a NASA moon rover designed to survive the frigid lunar night.
Finalists will have a chance to test their designs in simulated lunar environments next year. Participants can compete for up to $150,000 in prizes. Full details and guidelines for the Rock and Roll Challenge are available online.
The lunar terrain includes craters, boulders, steep inclines, and ultra-fine, abrasive dust known as regolith. The Artemis missions aim to establish a sustainable presence on the moon by the end of the decade. The new wheels will play a crucial role in achieving this goal by enabling efficient and reliable mobility on the lunar surface.
So, if you have a passion for innovation and space exploration, consider taking part in the Rock and Roll Challenge and help shape the future of lunar exploration!
- The Rock and Roll Challenge, a competition by NASA, invites innovators to design the next-generation of lunar exploration wheels that are lightweight, flexible, and capable of operating on the Moon's harsh terrain.
- The new lunar wheels developed through this challenge will be vital for a range of equipment in upcoming Artemis missions, such as robotic rovers, Lightweight Transport Vehicles, cargo haulers, autonomous vehicles, and specialized equipment.
- The goal of the Rock and Roll Challenge is to create wheels that can not only withstand the Moon's extreme temperatures, abrasive regolith, and rugged terrain, but also improve rover mobility beyond previous abilities by combining flexibility, toughness, and long lifespan in space environments.
