DATE:25/04/08
SOURCE:Flightglobal.com
ESA to undertake lunar rover study
By Rob Coppinger
The European Space Agency is offering €500,000 ($786,500) for a pressurised lunar rover (PLR) phase 0/A study to produce a conceptual design, to evaluate its functional, technical and operational requirements and determine its likely cost and development schedule.
ESA envisages a rover with a mass from 5,000kg (11,000lb) to 14,000kg that would only be delivered by NASA's Altair lunar lander.
Above: This walking lunar rover concept is from a 2002 ESA (European Space Agency) student workshop. The use of legs is considered a way of disturbing less Moon dust during locomotion.