Canada awards study contracts for lunar utility rover

TAMPA, Fla. — The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) awarded initial study contracts July 29 for a lunar utility rover as part of the country’s push to deepen its role in the U.S.-led Artemis program.

Canadian space system specialists Canadensys Aerospace Corporation, MDA Space and Mission Control were awarded contracts worth 14.6 million Canadian dollars ($10.6 million) in total to assess different options for the rover over the next 18 months, exploring capabilities across different sizes and mission scopes.

It is part of a 13-year, 1.2 billion Canadian dollar program Canada announced in 2023 to develop a utility rover for supporting human exploration of the moon.

Led by Canada, with procurement requiring at least 60% domestic content initially and 80% in later phases, the rover is meant as a contribution to Artemis, in exchange for seats for Canadian astronauts on future missions under the U.S. program.

Plans for the rover were announced during a 2023 visit by the Artemis 2 crew to Canada, including Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who is set to become the first non-American to travel to the moon’s vicinity when the mission launches as soon as 2026.

“Through the design and development of this lunar utility rover, Canada will collaborate with international partners to shape the next era of human exploration of the moon,” Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, said in a July 29 statement.

“Ultimately, the advancement of the lunar utility rover has the potential to open doors for Canadian businesses to expand and compete internationally and is expected to create and maintain 200 well-paying jobs over the next decade in an industrial sector that is amongst the most innovative and R&D intensive.”