The Artemis mission will be launched in just two years if there are no horizontal obstacles. Humans will return to the surface of the moon and this time we will try to create a permanent settlement to allow other planets to be explored. To facilitate the construction and exploration process, a special vehicle for the moon needs to be developed.
Today NASA announced that Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab have been selected to develop a new generation Lunar Surface Vehicle (LTV). NASA needs an LTV that can carry two astronauts in full spacesuits and can be remotely controlled without a pilot when needed.
All three LTV designs will then be evaluated before the winner will be announced and they will be used for the Artemis V Mission that will carry astronauts to the surface of the moon. The Artemis program still has some hurdles to overcome. The Starship that was supposed to carry astronauts has yet to make it even after undergoing three tests by SpaceX.
Artemis Mission delays are expected by NASA to occur. But they may not need to worry too much because their competitors Russia, China and India are three countries that have never sent a man to the moon with the earliest mission to be launched in 2030.
Japan has already chosen Toyota to develop a lunar surface car vehicle in 2019. JAXA's requirements are different because their vehicle has a cabin for astronauts to rest, is capable of operating with a maximum distance of 10,000 km and is equipped with solar panels to recharge the batteries.