Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV)¶
Summary. An unpressurized rover that carries two suited crew and cargo between waypoints. It can be driven by a crewmember, teleoperated or run autonomously, and can double as a communications relay and PNT source (ADD Rev C, p. 60). It is a Mobility Systems element in the Foundational Exploration segment, added in Rev A. The Moon Base Phases page lists "Lunar Terrain Vehicles" as a Phase One asset, describes them in the ADD's own words, and names the two vendors NASA selected in May 2026.
All page numbers are ADD Rev C unless noted.
NASA's description¶
"The Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) is an unpressurized rover capable of transporting crew and cargo across the lunar surface. It also supports science, exploration, and operations objectives.
The LTV provides reliable and safe transportation between waypoints for two suited crewmembers and cargo. Cargo can include various payloads, work packages, logistics supplies, science tools, samples, and associated stowage containers. The LTV can be operated autonomously, by teleoperators, or by a single suited crewmember.
The LTV can also act as a surface communications relay and provide positioning, navigation, and timing data to support crewed and uncrewed traverses, as well as uncrewed science operations. This capability can enhance network coverage, increases exploration ranges, enable landing site reconnaissance, and support payload utilization.
The LTV can also increase safety through redundancy, serving as a companion platform in the event another mobility system fails to return to a crew habitat. Two mobility platforms operating together allows for farther crewed traverses than would be possible utilizing a single platform." (p. 60)
At a glance¶
From the element one-pager (p. 60).
| ADD section | 2.3.10 (p. 60) |
| Implementing program | EVA and Human Surface Mobility Program; printed beneath: Moon to Mars Program Office |
| Functional mappings | Appendix B, B.3.10 |
| Segments | Foundational Exploration only |
| Sub-architecture | Mobility Systems |
| Added in | Rev A (elements index) |
| Header image | "From left to right: Astrolab's FLEX, Intuitive Machines' Moon RACER, and Lunar Outpost's Eagle lunar terrain vehicle at NASA's Johnson Space Center. (Credit: NASA)" |
The Pressurized Rover one-pager relies on the LTV as "a backup mobility asset in the event of a failure" (p. 63), the redundancy the last paragraph above describes.
Functions (ADD Appendix B.3)¶
B.3.10.1 maps 18 functions, all in Foundational Exploration (p. 159). Titles are the ADD's. The last column is the wiki's join with the Users Guide's Phase 1 list (Phase 1 functional gaps).
| ID | Function | Moon Base Phase 1 functional gap? |
|---|---|---|
| FN-P-305 L | Provide bi-directional power exchange capability | |
| FN-M-302 L | Enable local unpressurized surface mobility in sunlit areas and non-PSRs in the south pole region on the lunar surface | yes, mobility group |
| FN-M-304 L | Enable local unpressurized surface mobility in PSRs at the south pole region of the lunar surface | yes, mobility group |
| FN-M-501 L | Reposition a limited amount of cargo (100s of kg) in the south pole region on the lunar surface | yes, robotics group |
| FN-M-504 L | Reposition a small amount of unconditioned samples and containers (10s of kg) on the lunar surface | |
| FN-M-506 L | Reposition a small amount of refrigerated samples and containers (10s of kg) on the lunar surface | |
| FN-M-508 L | Reposition a small amount of frozen samples and containers (10s of kg) on the lunar surface | |
| FN-M-601 L | Relocate exploration assets at the south pole region of the lunar surface | |
| FN-M-701 L | Operate mobility system(s) in uncrewed mode between crew surface missions | |
| FN-C-103 L | Provide communications and data exchange between assets on the lunar surface | yes, communications and PNT group |
| FN-D-101 L | Collect, store, and locally distribute data on the lunar surface | |
| FN-A-104 L | Perform robotic manipulation of payloads, logistics, and/or equipment on the lunar surface | yes, robotics group |
| FN-A-302 L | Provide safeguards for automated asset(s) operating near crew | yes, robotics group |
| FN-A-403 L | Transition assets between crewed and uncrewed mode on the lunar surface | |
| FN-U-102 L | Capture imagery on the lunar surface | |
| FN-U-401 L | Stow collected unconditioned samples on exploration assets while on the lunar surface, while maintaining scientific integrity of the samples | |
| FN-U-411 L | Stow collected refrigerated samples on exploration assets while on the lunar surface, while maintaining scientific integrity of the samples | |
| FN-U-412 L | Stow collected frozen samples on exploration assets while on the lunar surface, while maintaining scientific integrity of the samples |
- Unpressurized mobility at the South Pole is the LTV's alone. It is the only element mapped to FN-M-302 L (sunlit areas and non-PSRs) and FN-M-304 L (PSRs). The same mobility at distributed sites away from the South Pole, FN-M-303 L, is unallocated in B.5 (pp. 173, 181–182).
- Against the lunar spreadsheet. The sheet's LTV column has 19: these 18 plus FN-A-103 L, "Provide a robotic system capable of conducting reconnaissance". B.3 maps that function to the Pressurized Rover only. B.5 lists it as unallocated under three robotic-surveillance use cases (pp. 177–178; open question 64). The one-pager says the LTV's relay role can "enable landing site reconnaissance" (p. 60). The wiki doesn't use that to settle the mapping.
Gaps that mention it¶
None by name (search of both spreadsheets). The mobility gaps, such as #0805 Autonomous Surface Mobility and Navigation, are on Mobility Systems.
Changes since Rev C¶
- Two vendors selected. Rev C's header image shows three companies' vehicles. In May 2026, "The agency selected Astrolab and Lunar Outpost to develop lunar terrain vehicles, awarded Blue Origin task orders supporting delivery of those vehicles to the lunar surface" (Moon Base encyclopedia, "History"). "NASA selected Blue Origin to deliver Astrolab's Crewed Lunar Vehicle (CLV-1) and Lunar Outpost's Pegasus LTV to the Moon in 2028 under two task orders, with options for future payload deliveries based on mission performance" (Moon Base Phases, "Lunar Terrain Vehicles"). The vehicle names differ from those in the Rev C image (FLEX, Eagle). The May 2026 release relates them: CLV‑1 is "adapted from the company's FLEX architecture" ("a mass of about 2,000 pounds", "more than 6 mph on level terrain"), and Pegasus is "a lighter, mission‑ready evolution of its Eagle rover designed explicitly to meet NASA's updated crewed LTV requirements" ("Operational for up to a year", "more than 9 mph"). Astrolab gets $219 million and Lunar Outpost $220 million under "the Phase 1 High Achievability Mission task orders of the Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services contract" (May 2026 release). Intuitive Machines, whose Moon RACER is in the Rev C image, was one of three firms in the first competition (Ignition page, "Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services Contract").
- Minimum performance in the services contract (the Ignition page's summary): "multiple crewed and uncrewed rovers with initial operating capabilities by 2028". Uncrewed LTVs: "basic autonomy and teleoperations, a minimum operational life of one year, and the ability to traverse at least 800 kilometers, with added incentives for surface improvement demonstrations". Crewed LTVs: "a minimum operational life of one year, and a traverse distance of at least 900 kilometers, including 100 kilometers of additional crewed traverses" (Ignition page). Rev C's one-pager gives no range or life. For comparison only (the wiki's pairing): #0805 sets "the uncrewed surface mobility range target for FE segment" at "1050 km/year at the lunar South Pole region". The units differ: the contract gives a total distance over a minimum one-year life, the gap a distance per year.
- Uses named in May 2026: "characterize terrain hazards, move materials, pre-stage resources", "autonomous traverses, terrain preparation, scientific investigations, technology demonstrations, and astronaut transport" (May 2026 release).
- Delivery route. "lunar terrain vehicles will be delivered to the lunar surface through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative" (wheel challenge article). Rev C doesn't say how the LTV reaches the Moon. The CLPS CX-2 task order (CLPS 1.0) is for "delivering the Lunar Terrain Vehicle to the Moon's South Pole" in 2028 (Ignition page); Blue Origin won it at "$188 million with an option period worth $280.4 million" (May 2026 release).
- Briefed at Ignition, March 2026. The Moon Base Program's deck has a Phase 1 "Key mission" slide: "Initial deployment of lunar crewed and uncrewed Lunar Terrain Vehicles (LTVs)": "Crewed vehicle to extend EVA traverse distances"; "Uncrewed vehicle for exploration and technology demonstration"; "2m x 1.7m x 1.9m (height)"; "500 kg maximum rover mass"; "Traverse slopes up to +/- 20 degrees"; "Survives up to 150 hours in shadow"; "Max speed 10 km/hr" (Ignition deck 2, slide 11). Rev C's one-pager gives none of these figures. The deck (March) and the May release (above) give mass and speed for the LTVs in different units, and the release's figures for the selected vehicles may not fit the deck's maxima; the release is newer (open question 82). In Phase 2 the deck has "NASA LTV Gen 2" among the "Site Preparation and Logistics Rovers", to "enable site preparation, regolith manipulation, and initial logistics capabilities" (slides 21, 25). The Building the Moon Base fact sheet has the same idea in words: "Multiple classes of LTVs starting on Phase 1, with simplified functionality, developing to more advanced vehicles in later phases" (Building the Moon Base fact sheet, p. 2).
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The contract's change, briefed at Ignition. The same deck: the "LTV contract was set up to: Deliver a "fully capable" crewed rover to survive for 10 years; Per current schedule, delivery to the lunar surface by 2030; Cost, technical complexity, and schedule puts NASA in a "no fail" solution space". "With the Moon Base directive, LTV must adapt to: Gain quicker access to crewed and uncrewed lunar surface rover operations; Increase quantity of rovers on lunar surface; Add uncrewed rovers that can evolve to serve numerous additional lunar surface needs; Allow for multiple vendor solutions, de-risking NASA; De-risk long-term mission success through learning and phased design evolution" (slide 58). By phase (slide 57):
- Phase 1: "Less complicated rovers, one-year design life & NASA as the only user"; "Simplified crewed rover(s)"; "Autonomous rover(s) capable of site surveying, site preparation demonstration, & logistics mobility"
- Phase 2: "Increased reliability of crewed & uncrewed rovers (NASA as the only user)"; "Increase logistics and science payload carrying capability"; "Regolith manipulation demo(s)"; slide 56 labels "Phase 2+ Advanced LTV"
- Phase 3: "Crewed & uncrewed rovers 10-year design life requirement (NASA & commercial users)"; "Full logistics transfer capabilities"; "Robotic manipulation capabilities"; "Permanently shadowed region exploration capable using RHU & RTG"; "Regolith manipulation"
Procurement: "LTV draft RFTP issued today for proposals on a more simplified variant of both crewed and uncrewed rovers"; "On-ramp RFP to increase vendor pool for Phase 2 LTVs planned for 2027"; "Task Order competitions every 18 to 24 months for future rover deliveries" (slide 59). The deck's timeline plans the "LTVS | Moon Base Phase 1 Initial Capabilities Task Order Competition" award for 22 May 2026 (slide 63) (Ignition deck 2, slides 56–59 and 63). The one-year life matches the services contract's minimum above; Rev C's one-pager gives no design life.
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On the Moon Base Systems page (2026). NASA's web page repeats the contract minimums in miles and kilometers (uncrewed "at least 497 miles (800 kilometers)"; crewed "559 miles (900 kilometers) or more, including at least 62 miles (100 kilometers) of additional crewed traverses") and gives both kinds of LTV the deck's environment figures: "slopes of up to 20 degrees, survive up to 150 hours in shadow, and operate at speeds up to six miles (10 kilometers) per hour". It then repeats the May release's awards and vehicle figures, including Pegasus at "speeds more than 9 mph", on the same page. Phase Two: "enhanced reliability, expanded logistics and science payload capacity, and regolith manipulation demonstration"; Phase Three: "long-duration service life, logistics transfer, robotic manipulation, permanently shadowed region exploration, and regolith handling" (Moon Base Systems, "Mobility"; open question 82). The program manager expects the LTVs to arrive before the first crew, operate autonomously, and "meet the crew around the landing site" on Artemis IV, as reported (podcast, August 2026).
Moon Base relevance¶
Phase One, per the Moon Base Phases page, which lists "Lunar Terrain Vehicles" among Phase One assets, delivered in 2028 (Moon Base Phases; Missions and assets).
That this is the ADD element is the wiki's reading. The web page doesn't mention the ADD, but it uses the same name and repeats the ADD's wording:
| ADD Rev C (p. 60) | Moon Base Phases, "Lunar Terrain Vehicles" |
|---|---|
| "an unpressurized rover capable of transporting crew and cargo across the lunar surface" | "unpressurized rovers capable of transporting crew and cargo across the lunar surface" |
| "reliable and safe transportation between waypoints for two suited crewmembers and cargo. Cargo can include various payloads, work packages, logistics supplies, science tools, samples, and associated stowage containers" | the same words, with "They will provide" for "The LTV provides" |
| "can be operated autonomously, by teleoperators, or by a single suited crewmember" | the same, with "The vehicles" as subject |
See open question 11.
Not a segment-to-phase mapping. Rev C maps the LTV to Foundational Exploration only, and the web page puts LTVs in Moon Base Phase One. Segments and phases are different frames, and no source relates them (Segments).
The Users Guide's Phase 1 mobility needs include FN-M-302 L, "Enable local unpressurized surface mobility in sunlit areas and non-PSRs in the south pole region on the lunar surface", and the target "Deployment of large crewed and uncrewed rovers with speeds of 10 km/hr" (Users Guide, pp. 9–10). The guide names no element for them. As functional gaps, they are functions "either currently unallocated to any existing elements, or … that need additional performance" (p. 9).
Shared function IDs (the wiki's join). The ADD maps FN-M-302 L and FN-M-304 L, the guide's two unpressurized-mobility gaps, to the LTV and no other element (B.3.10.1, p. 159). Neither is in B.5. In all, six of the LTV's 18 functions are on the guide's Phase 1 list, in three of its groups: mobility, robotics, and communications and PNT (above). The guide doesn't say which half of its definition applies to them (open question 65).
In the ACR25 white papers¶
Two of the 2025 white papers name the LTV:
- A network hub. "Certain hubs (e.g., Lunar Terrain Vehicle, Pressurized Rover) will have dual roles as network users and hubs" during Human Lunar Return and early Foundational Exploration (C&PNT white paper, p. 2). This fits the ADD's "surface communications relay" role (p. 60).
- Self-sufficient for power. "During the Human Lunar Return segment, the architecture relies on self-sufficient elements (i.e., with no need for external power sources) — such as the Human Landing System, Lunar Terrain Vehicle, Pressurized Rover" (lunar power white paper, p. 1). The ADD maps the LTV to Foundational Exploration only (At a glance); its Human Lunar Return element table (p. 26) doesn't list it (Human Lunar Return). The paper doesn't explain the difference (open question 33).
In the ACR24 white papers (2024)¶
Two 2024 papers, older than Rev C, give the LTV a cargo figure that Rev C's one-pager doesn't. Page numbers in this section are the papers' (PDF pages for the mobility paper, whose printed numbers skip 2).
- 800 kg. "the LTV, for example — developed as a crew transportation element — is limited to 800 kg of uncrewed cargo mass" (Lunar Mobility Drivers and Needs, PDF p. 3). Its takeaways put "the surface mobility capability expressed in the architecture" at 800 kg (PDF p. 5), and its Figure 2 marks "LTV Cargo Transport Capability" at "800kg" beside Apollo's LRV at 490 kg. Its introduction gives a different number for "current capabilities planned for lunar surface operations", "approximately 1,500 kg" (p. 1), without saying what that covers.
- Crew, not cargo. The LTV and the Pressurized Rover "are primarily for crew transportation, with limited cargo mobility functions" (same paper, p. 1).
- On the cargo chart. "Lunar Terrain Vehicle" is one of the cargo items in the cargo paper's Figure 1, as something to be landed (Lunar Surface Cargo, p. 2).
Rev C's description gives no mass (above). Whether 800 kg still holds is not stated in the sources read. The context is on Mobility Systems.
In the executive overviews (2023 and 2024)¶
Both are older than Rev C; page numbers are their PDF pages.
- Added in 2023, to Human Lunar Return. "This unpressurized vehicle will transport crew and equipment across the lunar surface. It can also be operated remotely" (2023 overview, PDF p. 10). The overview adds it to Human Lunar Return; Rev C maps it to Foundational Exploration only (open question 33), the same split as the power white paper's (above).
- 2024. The elements spread calls it "The Artemis Moon Buggy" (2024 overview, PDF p. 24).
In the February 2025 workshop briefing¶
The Moon to Mars Program Office's February 2025 workshop deck, ten months before Rev C, lists the LTV among the "Artemis firsts" of Artemis V, as then planned: "Use of the lunar terrain vehicle (LTV) rover by crew to access more of the lunar surface and collect diverse scientific samples", with "LTV unpressurized rover with scientific instruments" among the mission's new elements (Program Office updates, slide 12). Its progress slide shows Intuitive Machines' Moon RACER, Lunar Outpost's Eagle and Astrolab's FLEX being tested at Johnson Space Center (slide 13; source page), the three vehicles in Rev C's header image (At a glance; the wiki's comparison). Rev C's one-pager names no mission. The selection of two vendors and the newer plan are under Changes since Rev C.
The February 2025 briefing of the 2024 cargo and mobility papers gives the LTV's uncrewed capability two figures: "800 kg (full performance)" and "1600 kg (reduced performance)", beside Apollo's Lunar Roving Vehicle at 490 kg and the JAXA Pressurized Rover at "TBR". Its caption: "capabilities are not available for cargo or assets greater than 1,600 kg; No mobility assets exist that can relocate large elements (e.g., initial surface habitat)" (logistics, mobility and cargo briefing, slide 5; the same text in the partners' copy). The mobility paper gives 800 kg only (above); no source read says what "reduced performance" means, or whether it explains the paper's unexplained "approximately 1,500 kg" (the wiki doesn't join them).
Related pages¶
Elements · Mobility Systems · Lunar Utility Rover · Pressurized Rover · C&PNT Systems · Power Systems · Exploration EVA System · Moon Base missions and assets · Phase 1 functional gaps: mobility
Sources¶
ADD Rev C, pp. 60, 63, 159, 162, 173, 177–178, 181–182 · Lunar objective decomposition, allocation sheets · Moon Base Phases · Moon Base encyclopedia entry · Wheel challenge article · May 2026 release · Ignition page · Tech gaps spreadsheet, ESDMD #0805 · Users Guide, pp. 9–10 · Lunar Mobility Drivers and Needs, PDF pp. 1, 3, 5 · Lunar Surface Cargo, p. 2 · 2023 executive overview, PDF p. 10 · 2024 executive overview, PDF p. 24 · Program Office updates, February 2025, slides 12–13 · Logistics, mobility and cargo briefing, February 2025, slide 5 (partners' copy)