Futuristic transports with pod-shaped outsides will carry NASAs Artemis II astronauts from their team quarters to Launch Pad 39 B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. With the Vehicle Assembly Building in the background, the three specifically developed, completely electrical, environmentally friendly crew transport automobiles for Artemis missions showed up at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on July 11, 2023. The automobiles have been customized to meet NASAs particular requirements for the Artemis missions and also pay tribute to the history of the agencys human spaceflight and area exploration efforts. From the interior and exterior markings to the color and wheel wells of the lorries, all elements of the style were determined by an imaginative team that consisted of the Artemis launch director and representatives from NASAs Astronaut Office based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Futuristic transports with pod-shaped exteriors will carry NASAs Artemis II astronauts from their crew quarters to Launch Pad 39 B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The automobiles will be developed to take the totally suited astronauts, their support team, and their devices on the nine-mile stretch of road from the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building to the launch pad. Credit: Canoo
NASA has received a fleet of environmentally friendly electrical cars from Canoo Technologies, set to transport Artemis mission crews to the launchpad, signifying a modern departure from the Astrovans of previous space programs.
NASA has taken delivery of a fleet of cars that will transport Artemis crews for the last Earth-based stage of their lunar journey before boarding their rocket and spacecraft.
Canoo Technologies Inc., situated in Torrance, California, supplied NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida with three specifically tailored, totally electrical, environmentally friendly team transport automobiles on Tuesday, July 11. The zero-emission automobiles are geared up to bring 4 astronauts in their Orion team survival system spacesuits, in addition to support staff, such as a spacesuit technician, and any needed specialized equipment to Launch Pad 39B ahead of Artemis moon objectives.
With the Vehicle Assembly Building in the background, the three specifically developed, totally electric, eco-friendly team transport cars for Artemis objectives arrived at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on July 11, 2023. The zero-emission automobiles, which will carry astronauts to Launch Complex 39B for Artemis objectives, were delivered by the producer, Canoo Technologies Inc. of Torrance, California. Credit: NASA/Isaac Watson
The cars have been tailored to fulfill NASAs specific requirements for the Artemis objectives and likewise commemorate the history of the companys human spaceflight and space exploration efforts. From the interior and exterior markings to the color and wheel wells of the cars, all aspects of the design were identified by an innovative team that included the Artemis launch director and agents from NASAs Astronaut Office based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. This group offered insight from the idea phase all the method through production. Canoo was contracted in April 2022 to make the vehicles.
” The cooperation between Canoo and our NASA agents concentrated on the teams security and comfort en route to the pad ahead of their journey to the Moon,” said Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASAs Artemis launch director. “I have no doubt everybody who sees these brand-new cars will feel the very same sense of pride I have for this next endeavor of crewed Artemis missions.”
Historically, throughout launch operations at Kennedy for NASAs Apollo and Space Shuttle Programs, the earlier Astrovans were the primary means of carrying teams from the astronauts crew quarters in the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building to the launch pad. While the path to the pad may look comparable, the trip to get there has actually changed with the times.
Ahead of Artemis II, the very first crewed objective under Artemis that will send out 4 astronauts around the Moon and bring them home, the fleet will be utilized for astronaut training workouts at the spaceport. The around 10-day flight will test NASAs foundational human deep area expedition capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the very first time with astronauts and will lead the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the very first female and very first individual of color on the Moon.
By Tiffany Fairley, NASAs John F. Kennedy Space Center
July 15, 2023