They want to use the cars to transport astronauts over long distances, for example to the South Pole of the Moon
The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected three companies that will develop a vehicle to travel on the surface of the Moon. It is assumed that such lunar rovers will be able to transport astronauts who will explore the Moon as part of the Artemis mission. Companies selected by NASA include Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost and Venturi Astrolab.
The total cost of the contract for the construction and phased delivery of lunar rovers is $4.6 billion, and the exact number of such vehicles that NASA will order has not yet been announced. Each company must first submit a feasibility study, which will include a year-long dedicated study to develop a system that meets the space agency's requirements.
NASA's chosen supplier (or suppliers) will then submit their proposals for a demonstration mission: taking the vehicle to the Moon and testing its performance and safety. And only then the final selected option will transport astronauts during the Artemis V mission — it will start in 2030. According to NASA requirements, the lunar rover must operate in extreme conditions, including at the South Pole of the Moon. It will be equipped with innovative technologies for energy management, autonomous driving, as well as modern communication and navigation systems.
Such a vehicle will be used to transport crew, scientific equipment and collect samples of the lunar surface. Of course, with its help, astronauts will be able to reach much further than they could on foot. And when the crew is not on the Moon, the rovers will be controlled remotely and used not only for NASA tasks, but also for the commercial purposes of the manufacturer.