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NASA Selects Three Teams to Develop Lunar Terrain Vehicle
NASA has selected three teams to develop the capabilities for a lunar terrain vehicle, or LTV, which astronauts could use during Artemis missions to the moon. The three teams chosen for this project are Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab. Each team consists of established companies in the aerospace and automotive industry, with a potential total value of $4.6 billion for task orders over the next 15 years.
The leading companies in these teams may not be household names, but they have the expertise and experience necessary to develop mobility technology for crewed and uncrewed moon rovers. The primary focus is on creating a rover capable of carrying Artemis astronauts on exploration missions on the lunar surface.
Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, expressed excitement about the development of the Artemis generation lunar exploration vehicle and its role in advancing scientific research on the moon. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of the LTV rover for the success of the Artemis program.
After conducting feasibility studies, one of the teams will be selected to proceed with the construction and testing of its LTV, leading up to a lunar demonstration mission before Artemis 5 in 2029. Additional task orders may be given to the teams to fulfill NASA’s needs for unpressurized rover capabilities on the moon through 2039.
The teams, including Texas-based Intuitive Machines, Colorado-based Lunar Outpost, and California-based Astrolab, have teamed up with industry giants such as Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and General Motors to bring their lunar terrain vehicle projects to life. These collaborations combine cutting-edge technology and expertise to create innovative solutions for lunar exploration.
The LTV will support crewed missions to the moon’s south polar region and enable remote-controlled exploration activities between those missions. NASA also noted that the providers would have the opportunity to use their LTV for commercial lunar surface activities unrelated to NASA missions.
Financial details of the lunar terrain vehicle services contract were not fully disclosed, but some teams provided additional information about their funding. Intuitive Machines received $30 million for the initial feasibility study of their Moon RACER project, while Astrolab’s LTV contract could be worth up to $1.9 billion depending on NASA’s requirements.
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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Protesters reach an agreement to dismantle encampment
Protesters at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have agreed to end their pro-Palestinian encampment following an agreement reached with the school, university officials announced on Sunday. The encampment, which had been in place for two weeks, will be dismantled by Tuesday, marking the end of what was believed to be the last standing encampment at a Wisconsin college.
University officials had allowed the encampment to remain on a patch of lawn between Mitchell Hall and a busy thoroughfare on the campus’s southern boundary, opting not to involve law enforcement. This approach differed from the response at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where police were called in to remove tents after negotiations fell through. Despite initial efforts to disband the encampment, Wisconsin-Madison eventually reached an agreement with protesters to voluntarily dismantle the camp prior to commencement ceremonies.
Chancellor Mark Mone of Wisconsin-Milwaukee stated last Wednesday that the university had exhibited “the widest possible amount of patience and restraint.” However, he also cautioned that patience was wearing thin and hinted at potential action by the school. Following discussions with the UWM Popular University for Palestine Coalition, the university agreed to advocate for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, condemn the destruction of schools and universities in Gaza by Israeli forces, and hold meetings with protest leaders regarding university investments.
Additionally, the university pledged to urge the Water Council, a Milwaukee organization of water technology companies, to sever connections with two Israeli government-owned entities, Mekorot and the Israel Innovation Authority. Chancellor Mone serves as the treasurer on the Water Council’s board of directors.
In return for these commitments, the protesters agreed to dismantle the encampment beginning on Sunday and completing the process by Tuesday. They also agreed not to disrupt the university’s commencement ceremonies scheduled for Sunday. In a statement, the protesters expressed their satisfaction with the agreement, stating, “After hard fought edits and careful consideration by the coalition, we determined we had obtained all possible benefits from the encampment.”
The resolution of the encampment at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee represents a successful outcome of negotiations between university officials and protesters. By reaching a compromise that addresses the concerns of both parties, a peaceful resolution has been achieved, allowing for the encampment to be taken down without incident.