Goodyear, Lockheed Martin developing tires for lunar vehicle

MANILA: Essential components for NASA's Apollo program, including the Apollo 11 mission that touched down on the Moon 53 years ago, were provided by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.

By collaborating with Lockheed Martin on the creation of a lunar mobility vehicle, Goodyear will carry on that legacy by focusing on lunar vehicle tires.

Since Apollo, Goodyear has worked with NASA to enhance tire designs for lunar vehicles. Both organizations want to pioneer extended-use commercial vehicle operations on the Moon. To help the space agency navigate the lunar terrain, Goodyear contributes its extensive experience in tires.

“NASA’s Artemis program to live and work on the Moon has a clear need for lunar surface transportation that we intend to meet with vehicles driven by astronauts or operated autonomously without crew,” Vice President of Lunar Exploration Campaigns at Lockheed
Martin Kirk Shireman said. 

By drawing on its more than 50 years of experience working with NASA on deep space human and robotic spacecraft, including the Orion exploration-class spaceship for Artemis and several Mars planetary spacecraft, Lockheed Martin is able to take the lead of this expanding team.

Lockheed Martin continues to develop new technologies for upcoming space missions while assisting NASA in its exploration of every planet in our solar system.

The Lockheed executive added that the lunar vehicle can be used by other space agencies. 

“We’re developing this new generation of lunar mobility vehicle to be available to NASA and for commercial companies and even other space agencies to support science and human exploration. This approach exemplifies NASA’s desire for industry to take the lead with commercial efforts that enable the agency to be one of many customers.” 

In developing tires that can endure the harsh conditions on the Moon, Goodyear is basing the tires from the highly developed airless tire technology now employed on Earth with micro-mobility, autonomous shuttles, and passenger vehicles. The businesses are already putting their existing experience to use on the project, testing ideas in lunar soil test beds, among other things. 

“Everything we learn from making tires for the Moon’s extremely difficult operating environment will help us make better airless tires on Earth,” Senior Vice President, Global Operations and Chief Technology Officer at Goodyear Chris Helsel said.  

The Apollo lunar rovers were created with the intention of being used for only a few days on outings within five kilometers of their landing sites. Future missions will have to operate in more harsh temperatures and over far bigger distances across difficult terrain. 

The new tires need to withstand years of endurance and temperatures of over 250 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and below -250 degrees Fahrenheit at night. 

Lockheed eyes to have its first vehicle land on the Moon in time for NASA’s first landed mission, which includes the first woman and first person of color walk on the Moon, currently planned for 2025. 

Photos from Goodyear

Also read: Goodyear tests airless tires on delivery robots