Leidos brings experience and expertise in Astronaut health and safety solutions to the collaboration developing a Lunar Terrain Vehicle for NASA’s Artemis campaign
24 September 2024
Today, Lunar Outpost announced Leidos (NYSE:LDOS), a Fortune 500® innovation leader, has joined the Lunar Dawn team, led by Lunar Outpost. The two companies will collaborate to develop a human-rated Moon rover as part of NASA’s Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services (LTVS) contract, alongside General Motors (GM), The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, and MDA Space.
Leidos brings to the team a focus on practices to protect the health and safety of the crew, reduce human error and enable the crew to operate the system in an effective and efficient manner. Leidos will also be sharing their expertise in supporting mission assurance, systems engineering, operations, and integration planning. The Lunar Dawn team combines proven robotic and human space exploration heritage, cutting edge technology, and automotive industry strengths to create a true off-road vehicle for living and working on the Moon’s surface.
“Leidos brings decades of experience and a deep understanding of the LTV project to the Lunar Dawn team. In fact, they have been working on an LTV design since 2020,” said Forrest Meyen, Lunar Dawn Program Manager and Co-Founder at Lunar Outpost. “Astronaut safety is our number one priority when building our vehicle, and we are thrilled to have the industry leader in human-centered design on our team.”
Leidos has been supporting deep space exploration and human spaceflight for over 50 years, working closely with NASA delivering Class A, human-rated programs. Recently, the company was awarded a $476 million NASA Cargo Mission Support contract.
The Lunar Dawn team, led by Lunar Outpost, was awarded the LTV contract by NASA in April 2024. The LTV is an unpressurized rover that will allow Astronauts to travel a greater distance from a landing site—maximizing scientific discovery and exploration of the lunar surface. When not in use by NASA, the LTV will provide commercial services, contributing to a more accessible and sustainable cislunar economy.
