Canoo unveils the electric car that will be responsible for transporting NASA astronauts to the launch pad on the way to the Moon, as part of the Artemis mission, which will begin in 2025.
While we hear a lot about Mars, NASA is not relying solely on the red planet to help advance science. In effect, as part of its Artemis mission, the US space agency plans to return to the Moon over the next few years. The goal ? Set up a permanent position on our satellite, but also prepare for more distant missions.
And to transport the astronauts who will participate in this mission on Earth, you obviously need cars. For it, NASA has entered into a partnership with Canoo, a young start-up founded in 2017 by Stefan Krause and Ulrich Kranz and specialized in the design of electric vans for rental and carpooling.
An electric shuttle
But until now, no image of the vehicles that will transport the astronauts to the launch pad had been shown. It is now done, while Canoo has unveiled on Facebook some visuals showing the vehicles that will be entrusted to NASA. These are electric shuttles called Lifestyle, whose technical data sheet has been partially revealed.
This model, which can also be ordered by the general public has a 300 horsepower motor and 450 Nm of torque. It can then travel around 400 kilometers on a single charge, thanks to its 80 kWh battery. The first copies will begin marketing by the end of the year. The vehicles should therefore be ready for the first launch, which should take place in 2025, more than 50 years after the last mission to the Moon.
An electric shift for NASA
These cars will obviously not go to the Moon, but rather will be responsible for taking the four astronauts to the space shuttle, as well as their belongings. NASA companions and a driver will also be able to take place on board these vehicles, which should offer a large space on board, as the Canoo press release reminds us. The car is indeed available in a 7-seater version as specified on the manufacturer’s website.
This partnership marks a real turning point in history. And for good reason, a few years ago, NASA had a partnership with Chevrolet, which then provided Corvettes to transport astronauts. But now, the time is electric since NASA used Tesla Model X to take cosmonauts to the launch pad for SpaceX missions.
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