JAXA, Toyota co-operation: crewed, pressurized, fuel-cell driven lunar rover

[TrevorMonty]

looks like Honda soon has a reusable rocket or space plane

if only everything came together for Jaxa and the Japanese space program

Toyota Lunar Cruiser: What Does The Land Cruiser For The Moon Look Like?
https://www.slashgear.com/1890857/toyota-lunar-cruiser-design/


Japan's ispace blames 'hard landing' on moon on Laser Range Finder
https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Japans_ispace_blames_hard_landing_on_moon_on_Laser_Range_Finder_999.html

Honda is years away from small RLV. That was only demostration of vertical land on sub orbital test vehicle, not lot different from ones Masten use to fly. A RLV and capsule capable of flying humans would require $Bs and 5-10yrs.

[JSz]

https://twitter.com/miraikan/status/1946495229126951067

Translation:

At the ongoing special #DeepSpace Exhibition, a giant full-scale model of the #Crewed Pressurised Rover, a manned lunar rover under research and development by Japan, is on display for the first time in the world!

See also: https://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/exhibitions/spexhibition/deep-space.html

Translation:

Manned Pressurised Rover (full-scale model), a manned lunar exploration vehicle.

An exploration vehicle that astronauts can board and live in for about a month inside the vehicle without spacesuits while exploring the Moon. It symbolises the next generation of lunar exploration, and the full-scale model is on display for the first time in the world.

[Tywin]

Amazing Rover!! super jaxa

[JSz]

At the Deep Space Exhibition in Japan, a full-scale model of Toyota's crewed, pressurised lunar rover was on display:

https://twitter.com/nojiri_h/status/1989598267961913356

Toyota's lunar rover. You might wonder, “How on earth are they going to get something this heavy and bulky down to the moon?” But viewed from above, its front and rear form arcs, designed to fit perfectly into the rocket's fairing in a horizontal position. Are they actually serious about this?

https://twitter.com/ntv_space/status/1991805925846606011

The Lunar Cruiser was in Toyota!! It's huge. A full-scale model of the manned lunar rover currently under development by Toyota and JAXA. It's sitting right there in the entrance!

Translations from Japanese using DeepL.

[AndrewM]

NASA Ignites New Golden Age of Exploration, Innovation in 2025 [Dec. 16]

To support later missions, teams conducted a booster firing test for future rocket generations, verified new RS-25 engines, test-fired a new hybrid rocket motor to help engineering teams better understand the physics of rocket exhaust and lunar landers, as well using various mockups to test landing capabilities in various lighting conditions. Teams also conducted human-in-the-loop testing in Japan with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) with a rover mockup from their agency.