Australia’s ‘Roo-ver’ takes next step towards moon mission in Queensland space exploration tests

Australia’s first lunar rover is one step closer to its mission to the moon after a new prototype was put through a series of tests designed to prepare it for the harsh conditions of space. The suitcase-sized ‘Roo-ver’ is being put through its paces at a lunar testing facility at Queensland University of Technology (QUT)’s Kelvin Grove campus in Brisbane, with the latest prototype being tested for autonomous operation.

Australia takes another step towards the Moon The 20kg rover would weigh just three kilograms on the moon because of the lower gravity. Its cameras and other sensors are being used to identify hazards including rocks and craters in real time, allowing it to make decisions and navigate around obstacles without human intervention.

“This time we’re going to the moon to work, to be able to stay there, to establish a sustainable presence,” Roo-ver technical director Katie Doyle said The moon vehicle is being developed as part of Australia’s $42 million bid to contribute to NASA’s Artemis program. Its mission will last for one lunar day — equivalent to about two weeks on Earth — when it will land on the moon and test the soil to determine whether it can sustain life.

Australian Space Agency representative Keegan Buzza said the Artemis era represented a new chapter in space exploration. “This is space exploration 2.0,” he said. “The Artemis era is the Apollo for our generation.” The program has attracted investment from close to 80 countries that have signed the Artemis Accords, with the testing critical to ensure the final robotic explorer was ready for its journey. “So that when we build our final flight rover, we will have full confidence that it will go to the moon,” Doyle said. The project is also designed to build Australia’s capability in the growing space industry. The space economy is expected to triple over the next decade, with the technology and expertise developed through the mission intended to provide a stepping stone towards future missions to Mars. “We learn more, we build more capability in Australia,” Roo-ver consortium director Ben Sorensen said.