"Space exploration collaboration between Toyota and its team, fuelled by their shared enthusiasm"
In a historic move, Toyota and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have teamed up to push the boundaries of space exploration. The collaboration, known as the Lunar Cruiser, was launched in 2019, with the aim of developing core technologies for driving and operating vehicles in the lunar environment [1][2].
The project's inception can be traced back to 2017, when Kazuya Suenaga, a JAXA team member, was temporarily assigned to Toyota to bring his vision for a lunar exploration project to life. His passion for space development and desire to elevate Japan's space technology drove him to seek a collaboration with Toyota [1].
Yukihito Ohmura, a Toyota team member, shared Suenaga's vision and together, they embarked on a mission to make space development more accessible for Japan. Their shared determination to push the boundaries of mobility beyond Earth led them to this groundbreaking collaboration [1][2].
The project's focus is on the development of a pressurised crew rover, which is planned to land on the Moon in 2029. The rover is designed to travel over 10,000km on the lunar surface, a testament to the project's ambitious goals [1][2].
Toyota's strength lies in its fuel cell technology, a key component in the space project. Ohmura felt confident that this technology would be beneficial for the project, contributing to the unique challenges of lunar mobility [1].
In addition to the lunar project, Toyota and JAXA are also collaborating on other projects for outer space development. Japan's role in these projects includes the preparation of rockets to transport supplies and possibly handling lunar landers [1].
The space station in lunar orbit, known as The Gateway, is planned to begin operation around 2023 or 2024. The project's vision is to establish bases on the Moon in the 2030s and 40s, with the goal of creating a proven hydrogen society and benefiting the Earth and the quest for Mars [1][2].
The collaboration aims to change outer space development in Japan by drawing Toyota into the project, reflecting Toyota's growing passion and initiative in extraterrestrial mobility projects [1][2]. The project's initiator, Suenaga, believes that this collaboration will raise the level of Japan's space development technologies, making space development more accessible [1].
[1] Toyota and JAXA Collaborate on Lunar Cruiser Project. (2019, October 1). Retrieved from https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/3096837.html
[2] Toyota and JAXA to Develop Lunar Cruiser. (2019, October 1). Retrieved from https://www.jaxa.jp/press/2019/10/20191001_004_0.html
Science, technology, and space-and-astronomy converge as Toyota and JAXA work on the Lunar Cruiser project. The rover, due to land on the Moon in 2029, showcases the collaboration's ambition to develop technologies for lunar mobility and space exploration.
