translated from Spanish: Toyota plans a trip to the moon with a hydrogen vehicle

The first time man arrived on the Moon was on the Apollo 11 mission in charge of the United States in 1969. Now it is Japan the country that wants to get there and to do so is developing a vehicle with Toyota.This project is a partnership between Toyota and the Japan Air Exploration Agency (JAXA) and consists of the manufacture of a manned exploration vehicle born for missions on the Moon.

Its name is Toyota Lunar Cruiser in homage to the brand’s iconic Land Cruiser SUV. Its mechanics are prepared with hydrogen fuel cell technology, the same one that the Japanese firm is driving for its vehicles that circulate on Earth.The plan they plotted aims to have a full-scale model in 2022, build a functional prototype in 2024 and by the end of this new decade, specifically in 2029, manufacture the model that will travel to the Moon.

The lunar cruiser’s habitability is designed for two astronauts, although four people can fit in an emergency. Its dimensions will be 6.0 meters long, 5.2 meters wide and 3.8 meters high. In addition, the goal is to reach 10,000 kilometers of cruising range on the surface of the Moon.

For now, Toyota and the Japanese aerospace agency are focusing on simulations to define the ideal power of their electrical mechanics, as well as their ability to dissipate heat while drivingOnly, the necessary cabin equipment is also being defined so that the crew can live inside for about a month.

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Original source in Spanish