NASCAR has partnered with Leidos, a technology and engineering company, to help develop a lunar rover for NASA, the organizations announced.
The partnership will be a collaboration between the two organizations in the areas of speed, safety and reliability, the company said.
“We are thrilled to unveil our lunar vehicle design and to announce our exciting new promotional partnership,” said Leidos CEO Roger Krone. “This groundbreaking collaboration between Leidos and NASCAR takes both companies into uncharted territory, just like we believe our rover will do for NASA and its astronauts. We aim to pave the way for human exploration of space and inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists and innovators to reach for the stars.”
“NASCAR partnering with Leidos couldn’t make more sense when it comes to this vehicle,” said Pete Jung, NASCAR senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “With both companies being known for exciting innovations in distinctive fields, this collaboration brings together ideas that normally don’t meet in other developments. We are eager to watch this uniquely designed rover traverse different areas of the lunar surface.”
Leidos is submitting bids for several of the next phases of NASA’s Artemis program after the successful launch of Artemis I last year, the company said. It has submitted a bid for the Human Landing System Sustaining Lunar Development contract, and the Universal Stage Adapter (USA) for NASA, a piece of equipment that will enable the transport of large payloads, including the rover unveiled by the company and NASCAR.
The rover’s components have been designed to support the safety and well-being of astronauts as they drive across the lunar landscape, the organizations said, and is engineered to supports crew members across varying height and weight scales, the company said.
“Leidos and its Dynetics team bring a wealth of experience to the table, with a long-standing reputation as trusted providers of advanced space systems and services to NASA,” the company said in a statement announcing the partnership. “NASCAR boasts a powerful marketing engine and a passionate fan base, as well as a proven track record of developing high-performance race cars that push the boundaries of what’s possible. Combining their strengths and expertise, this collaboration marks a new chapter in NASA’s quest to explore the universe and push the boundaries of human achievement.”
Roush Industries is providing automotive design and manufacturing experience for the project. Other project partners include Collins Aerospace, Motiv Space Systems, Moog, A-P-T Research, Sophic Synergistics and the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems at Mississippi State University.
