UNITED STATES: Canoo Technologies, an advanced mobility company, has delivered three state-of-the-art fully electric crew vehicles (CTV) to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
These innovative vehicles, dubbed “Astro vans,” will serve as the primary mode of transportation for astronauts participating in NASA’s Artemis missions, including the highly anticipated Artemis 2 mission that aims to orbit the moon with a crew for the first time in over 50 years.
Canoo’s LV (Lifestyle Vehicle) platform forms the basis for the new CTVs, which optimizes cabin space, utility, and productivity within a compact footprint.
Designed to accommodate four astronauts in their Orion crew survival system pressure suits, as well as support personnel and specialized equipment, the vehicles will transport the crew from Kennedy’s Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building to Complex 39B, where the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft await liftoff.
With their sleek and modern design, the Artemis vehicles combine elements from the iconic Apollo astronaut transfer van and the Airstream of the shuttle era. The vehicles provide a striking visual aesthetic, featuring street-view windows and panoramic glass roofs.
The design details, including the interior and exterior markings and color schemes, were carefully selected by a collaborative team of NASA’s Astronaut Office and Canoo representatives.
Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA’s Artemis launch director, expressed pride in the new vehicles and their role in the upcoming Artemis missions.
The collaboration between Canoo and NASA focused on ensuring the safety and comfort of the crew during transportation to the launch pad.
Canoo chairman and CEO Tony Aquila emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainable transportation and hailed the partnership with NASA as a testament to their innovative technologies.
Aquila expressed gratitude for being part of “one of the world’s greatest endeavours” and praised NASA’s pioneering spirit.
The Canoo CTVs join a new generation of Astro vans, including SpaceX’s fleet of Tesla Model X electric cars for Dragon crew transport and a customized Airstream for Boeing’s Starliner astronauts.
The classic Apollo and space shuttle-era vans are now on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Before their use in the Artemis 2 mission, the CTV fleet will undergo rigorous astronaut training exercises at Kennedy Space Center.
Subsequently, NASA will deploy the vehicles for future lunar missions, including exploring the moon’s south pole and visiting the Gateway in lunar orbit.
The upcoming Artemis 3 mission, in line with the White House’s directive, aims to land the first woman and the first person of color on the moon.
The arrival of these cutting-edge electric “Astro vans” marks a significant milestone in NASA’s Artemis program and showcases the agency’s commitment to advancing sustainable and innovative transportation technology for space exploration.
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