Venturi Astrolab introduces new rover to carry crew and cargo on Moon & eventually Mars

California-based aerospace startup Venturi Astrolab has revealed a proto model of its brand new rover for usage on Moon. Named Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) rover, as company says, is being designed to support human operations, robotic science, exploration, logistics, construction and resource utilization. Astrolab says that this specialty of rover would enable humans to make a sustained presence on lunar surface and even on Mars. 

Astrolab aims to create “ most versatile rover ever created”

Speaking at an interview, Jaret Matws, Astrolab’s founder and CEO, said as per Space News, “We’re making FLEX to be most versatile rover ever created, and primary innovation is fact that we have this modular paylo capability”. rover can carry a paylo of up to 1,500 kilograms, above or below its main deck, and can be controlled eir by two astronauts onboard or a remote. 

In a video shared by company, a pair of rovers can be seen transporting cargo across lunar base after landing in a SpaceX Starship rocket. Stating "we want to solve local transportation problem", Matws has said that one of FLEX's aims is to be rey for service when SpaceX and Blue Origin would touch down on Moon on ir own cargo landers. Speaking with Verge, Matws said, "Companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin are solving long haul transportation problem, and we want to solve local transportation problem, and ultimately set standard for lunar logistics". 

CEO revealed that when rover is rey, it would weigh about 500 kilograms and will be equipped with technologies specifically designed to operate in lunar terrain. "We want hardware to be super robust so that y can essentially drive it like y stole it and not have to worry about it", Matws told Verge. company is also working to make rover withstand extreme environment on Moon. FLEX would be me resistant to riation and to temperatures that can drop as low as -130 degrees Celsius when lunar south pole plunges into darkness for 14 days. According to company, FLEX rover would be delivered to Moon before NASA's Artemis 3 mission, which is targeted no earlier than 2025.

Image: Venturi Astrolab