NASA Astronauts Get a New Ride at Kennedy Space Center

Key Highlights :

1. NASA has delivered three electric vehicles to be used for ferrying Artemis astronauts to the launch pad.

2. Each vehicle is designed to seat four astronauts and is equipped with a spacesuit technician and other support personnel.

3. The vehicles are based on a rich history of shuttle transportation from Project Mercury to Apollo and Space Shuttle.

     NASA recently unveiled a new way for future Artemis astronauts to travel to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center – three fully-electric, environmentally friendly, and specially designed vehicles built and delivered by Canoo Technologies Inc. This new mode of transportation is part of NASA's continued support for the Artemis missions, and is set to revolutionize how astronauts travel to the launch pad.

     The three vehicles were designed to seat four astronauts wearing their crew survival system spacesuits, along with a spacesuit technician, additional support personnel, and specialized equipment for the ride to the launch pad. The design of the vehicles was a collaborative effort between NASA Astronaut Office representatives and the Artemis launch director, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, who is NASA’s first woman launch director.

     The first mission where these vehicles will be used is the Artemis II mission, which will send Commander Reid Wiseman (United States), Pilot Victor Glover (United States), Mission Specialist Christina Hammock Koch (United States), and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen (Canada) on a 10-day journey orbiting the Moon. This mission is currently scheduled to lift off from Launch Pad 39B in November 2024.

     The new electric vehicles build upon a rich history of NASA shuttling astronauts from their crew quarters to the launch pad. Starting with Project Mercury, which used a modified semi-truck and trailer for this task, to the Itasca Suncruiser M-22RB for STS-7 and STS-8, to the famous Astrovan, which was used between STS-9 and the last Space Shuttle mission of STS-135. While SpaceX has used Tesla Model X cars to transport Crew Dragon astronauts to the launch pad, this new NASA vehicle is strictly for future NASA missions.

     The new electric vehicles will provide future Artemis astronauts with a comfortable and safe ride to the launch pad, and will no doubt be a memorable experience for them as they embark on their journey to the Moon. This is just one more example of how NASA is continuing to innovate and push the boundaries of space exploration.

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