Bridgestone and Astrobotic are developing tires for lunar missions
Bridgestone has signed an agreement with the American company Astrobotic Technology to jointly develop tires for lunar missions, the tire manufacturer's press service reported.
A tire will be developed for the 24U CubeRover lunar rover, which is designed to provide mobility, communication, and energy generation when using scientific equipment on the lunar surface. It is noted that the lunar rover, "the size of a standard kitchen stove," has such features as advanced control, dynamic suspension, and the ability to maintain communication over long distances, which increases its effectiveness in the conditions of the Earth's satellite.
Earlier, Bridgestone, in cooperation with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), had already developed conceptual versions of "lunar" tires of the first and second generations and conducted various tests using both simulation technologies and a special testing ground, Luna Terrace, in Tottori (Japan).
The second-generation tire has a skeletal structure with metal spokes, and the elastic construction can deform when overcoming obstacles, such as rocks on the lunar surface. According to Bridgestone, this variant maximizes shock absorption and traction, as well as improves energy consumption efficiency, which is critical during long missions. The elastic structure of the tires reduces the load on the lunar rover's transmission and is designed to help ensure the smooth operation of all systems. In the near future, the company, together with Astrobotic, will assess how the tires are ready for the temperature conditions of space.
Bridgestone also notes that they have extensive experience in developing tires for all types of vehicles used on Earth, and now they "will contribute to the evolution of space mobility, participation in lunar research."
"Our innovations, which have been refined in extreme conditions, for example, in motorsports, will play a key role in the development of lunar transport, and as part of this project, we aim to become an integral part of the mobility of the future, taking on new challenges while exploring the largely unexplored lunar surface," Bridgestone said, adding that "the collaboration with Astrobotic, a leader in space exploration and technology development, will be another step in our work to create new opportunities for co-creation with international partners."
Astrobotic has been developing lunar transport for over 17 years and has signed 37 contracts with NASA, for example.