Goodyear, Lockheed Martin developing commercial lunar vehicle

The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company announced that it joined Lockheed Martin in developing a lunar vehicle.

In a statement, the company said that the project will continue its tradition of providing essential products that will be used in outer space, by creating lunar vehicle tires.

“Since Apollo, Goodyear continued innovating alongside NASA to advance designs for a lunar vehicle tire. The team of companies intends to be the first to establish extended-use commercial vehicle operations on the Moon. Goodyear brings its vast expertise in a mission-critical component to traverse the lunar surface, tires,” Goodyear shared.

Goodyear supplied crucial products for NASA’s Apollo program, including the Apollo 11 mission that landed on the Moon 53 years ago.

“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,” Lockheed Martin Vice President of Lunar Exploration Campaigns Kirk Shireman said.

“We’re developing this new generation of lunar mobility vehicle to be available to NASA and for commercial companies and even other space agencies to support science and human exploration. This approach exemplifies NASA’s desire for industry to take the lead with commercial efforts that enable the agency to be one of many customers,” he added.

The two brands are currently applying their existing expertise to the project, which include testing concepts in lunar soil test beds.

“Everything we learn from making tires for the Moon’s extremely difficult operating environment will help us make better airless tires on Earth,” Goodyear Global Operations Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Chris Helsel noted.

“This will contribute to our end goal of enabling mobility no matter where it takes place. Just as important, it is an honor to write history with this prestigious company who knows how to make giant leaps in exploration and mobility.” 

According to Goodyear, the new lunar tires must be durable and can withstand temperatures as high as 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius) and as low as -250 degrees Fahrenheit (-157 degrees Celsius).

Goodyear is drawing from its advanced airless tire technology used on Earth with micro-mobility, autonomous shuttles and passenger vehicles.

Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin leverages its more than 50-year-history of working with NASA on deep space human and robotic spacecraft, such as NASA’s Orion exploration-class spaceship for Artemis and numerous Mars planetary spacecraft. It will also manage the development of the program’s commercial business operations and engagement with NASA and global space agencies.

Another teammate, MDA of Canada, recently announced that its commercial robotic arm technology will be utilized on the human-rated lunar mobility vehicles.

The companies are eyeing to complete the vehicle in time to support NASA’s first landed mission that will bring the first woman and first person of color to walk on the Moon — currently planned for 2025.

Photos from Goodyear Philippines, Lockheed Martin

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