US PROGRAMME
Venturi Astrolab, a strategic partner of Venturi Space, originally launched the lunar rover programme
Venturi Astrolab’s rovers: who’s doing what?
Venturi Space, invents, studies, designs and manufactures mobility solutions capable of handling the extreme environmental conditions found on the Moon and Mars, and Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab), is the designer, manufacturer, and operator of multi-purpose rovers for the Moon and Mars.
TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPED BY VENTURI SPACE
From design
to operation
When it came to designing the lunar rover, Venturi Astrolab, Inc. went back to the drawing board. While relying on partner Venturi Space to providing the batteries and wheels (see below), the US firm is handling the architecture, primary structure, mechanics, control software, avionics, assembly, and acceptance testing.
FLIP : FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform
Lunar Rover to Address Growing Demand to Deliver Small Payloads to the Moon
The rover uses much of the same technology used by Astrolab’s FLEX rover, which was introduced in 2022. Just as with FLEX, Astrolab is responsible for the overall design and manufacturing of the rover.
FLIP has a mass of half ton, a payload capacity of 30 kg and has been designed to be compatible with the growing number of medium-class lunar landers now entering the commercial space market.
FLEX : 2026 WITH SPACEX
SpaceX will transport the rover to the lunar South Pole
Sacha Lakic designed astromobile will be remotely controlled from Earth, conducting both scientific experiments and commercial activities.
Two suited astronauts can also climb aboard and drive the rover across the Moon’s surface. In this configuration, the rover would meet NASA’s specifications for its forthcoming Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV).
Technologies developed by Venturi Space
Two state-of-the-art technologies developed at two sites: Monaco for the batteries, Switzerland for the wheels.
“With two decades’ experience of terrestrial vehicle innovation, we have all the expertise needed to support Venturi Astrolab, Inc. As strategic partners, we’re proud to be involved in designing and developing these rovers”
Illustration in flight