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Liquid-Oxygen Powered Moon SUV

NASA Chariot lunar rover on the test fieldPhoto:
Image: Stuart Fox/NASA

With the intent of starting new missions on the Moon by 2020, NASA will need an off-roader capable of handling a multitude of situations. The Chariot is one of the new prototypes for NASA's next generation lunar rover. Taking a cue from the Mars rovers, it will have six wheels, each with it's own independent steering.

The current rover, active since the 70s, like the shuttles, will be replaced with a vehicle capable of carrying out much larger missions. The new rover will move passengers and freight as well as geological samples. It will be a truly all-purpose machine. The intention is to power all of this with liquid-oxygen and -hydrogen rather than batteries.

NASA Chariot lunar rover on moon-like test surfacePhoto:
Image: Stuart Fox/NASA

Right now, the vehicle's color comes from anodized aluminum. Should the vehicle reach full production, the astronauts who use it will be cruising the Moon in a much more expensive thermal coating of gold. A true chariot for the men on the Moon.

Sources: 1, 2

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Jonn (not verified) says:

can't wait for the 2020 Hummer H2O which will run on oxygen and hydrogen and probably get even worse gas mileage than it does now!

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Tori (not verified) says:

Did you guys really have to call it "Liquid-Oxygen Powered" in the title, despite the fact that it actually runs on a plain old LOX+LH2 fuel cell -- which your sources and even your article clearly state ??

LOX-powered devices use evaporating lq. oxygen to drive a turbine. This has nothing to do with it.

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rick proser says:

I believe in 50 years (having colonized the moon) we will be driving those babies downtown Sea Of Tranquility!

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Aaron S (not verified) says:

Hope to see you there! Cheers!