Australia Building Its First Lunar Rover to Fly to the Moon With NASA

$42 million has been allocated by the Australian government, with a plan to launch to the moon later this decade.

A Canadian lunar rover is seen during a demonstration outside the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) John H. Chapman Space Centre in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, on October 30, 2024. The Canadian rover will land on the south pole of the Moon. (Photo by Alexis Aubin / AFP) Photo by ALEXIS AUBIN/AFP via Getty Images

Australia has selected the team who will be responsible for building the nation’s first lunar rover to go to the moon.

The goal is to send this semi-autonomous rover to the moon later this decade with the support of the Australian Space Agency and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The federal government is allocating $42 million (US$26.6 million) of taxpayer dollars to build and operate the lunar rover, which has been dubbed “Roo-ver.”

ELO2, a consortium of 21 companies and research partners, has been selected to deliver the rover for the Australian Space Agency following an 18 month design process.

Lunar rovers were driven on the moon in the last three missions of the Apollo program, 15, 16, and 17 during 1971 and 1972.

However, Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic said this mission was about much more than a historic Aussie moonshot.

“It’s leveraging and building on our know-how in robotics, automation and advanced engineering to build Australia’s manufacturing future,” he said.

Husic added the team behind Roo-ver were creating capability and technologies that will advance many of the industries we rely on.

“It’s also helping keep our best talent here in Australia, with several STEM graduates already hired direct from universities for the project,” he said.

The government explained robotics and automation could generate major social, economic, and environmental benefits for Australia.

Automation could deliver $170 billion to $600 billion per year to the Australian economy by 2030, according to the government’s modelling.

Human Presence on the Moon ‘Major Focus’

The Australian Space Agency said Australia’s moon mission was shifting from concept to reality.

Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo said establishing a sustainable human presence on the moon would be a major focus of the international space community over the coming decades.

“Roo-ver demonstrates the cutting-edge capability Australia can offer to major international space missions. This mission centres Australia in that foundational work, while advancing our national robotics ecosystem to improve life here on Earth,” he said.

“This project is as much about the journey as the destination. Australia is gaining valuable knowledge and technical skill just from developing Roo-ver, creating opportunity to become an even bigger part of the global space sector.”

Meanwhile, Warwick Penrose from the ELO2 Consortium said it had been an immense privilege to be involved in this history-making national mission up to this point.

“And it’s an even bigger privilege to now be trusted with building and operating an Australian rover on the Moon,” he said. 

“Every member of our Consortium is committed to achieving success on behalf of all Australians and showcasing the talent and capabilities of our world-leading research and industry partners on the international stage.”

Penrose is the founder and chief executive officer of EPE Trusted to Protect, which is co-leading the ELO2 consortium together with space robotics company Lunar Outpost.

One Step Closer to Humanity’s Future in Space

Lunar Outpost, based in Colorado, said its Aussie team was leading the charge alongside consortium partners to build Australia’s first lunar rover.

Oceania program manager Joseph Kenrick explained the awarding of the project was a testament to the “incredible work of our team in Australia.”

“It showcases not only the collaborative potential of the ELO2 Consortium but also Australia’s strengths in autonomous systems and remote operations dating back to the Apollo era. This isn’t just a mission for the Moon; it’s a mission to build Australia’s presence in space,” he said.

In a LinkedIn post, the company said the project strengthens Australia’s role in space and brings them one step closer to unlocking humanity’s future beyond Earth.

They expressed enthusiasm for working with the Australian Space Agency, NASA, and ELO₂ Consortium partners on this historic mission.

Founder and CEO Justin Cyrus added, “In this new era of space, bolstered by global collaboration, we are proud to play a pivotal role—advancing our vision through international partnerships, supporting diverse missions, and growing our capabilities globally.”

In 2023, the Canadian Space Agency had budgeted $65 million to develop its own lunar rover to be used on the moon.