--- title: "See the Moon Rover Toyota Is Building for Japan’s Space Program" description: "Japan's space agency is partnering with Toyota to build a six-wheeled, self-driving vehicle to explore the surface of the Moon as soon as 2029." date: "2019-03-12" modified: "2019-03-12" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/see-the-moon-rover-toyota-is-building-for-japans-space-program" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Astronomy" - "Moon" - "Space" tags: - "fuel cell" - "JAXA" - "moon" - "self driving car" - "toyota" - "vehicle" --- # See the Moon Rover Toyota Is Building for Japan’s Space Program ![Japan's space agency is partnering with Toyota to build a six-wheeled, self-driving vehicle to explore the surface of the Moon as soon as 2029.]() *\Image: JAXA\* ## Moon Unit Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is officially partnering with Japanese automotive giant Toyota to build a six-wheeled, self-driving vehicle to explore the surface of the Moon. Japan is hoping to launch the vehicle to the Moon as soon as 2029. https://youtu.be/1kd2nFHAAtU Since there's no atmosphere, a ton of radiation, and harsh temperature conditions, JAXA argues that a space mobility vehicle is necessary. The rover will be able to carry two passengers — or four in an emergency — for more than 6,200 miles (10,000 km) across the lunar surface. The vehicle concept is about twice as wide and twice as tall as a 2019 Toyota 4Runner SUV. ![]() ## Fuel Cell Power Power will come from an array of replaceable fuel cells which will be charged over time using foldable solar panels. "Fuel cells, which use clean power-generation methods, emit only water, and, because of their high energy density, they can provide a lot of energy, making them especially suited for the project being discussed with JAXA," said Toyota Executive Vice President Shigeki Terashi in **a** [press release](). ![]() ## Long Road Ahead Today's announcement is only a first step in an very ambitious project. The plan is first to "accelerate their ongoing joint study of a manned, pressurized rover that employs fuel cell electric vehicle technologies," according to a [press release](). The vehicle has been in the works, conceptually, [since May 2018](). Eventually, Japan is ready to send its Toyota rover to the Moon within the next decade. "Manned, pressurized rovers will be an important element supporting human lunar exploration, which we envision will take place in the 2030s," said JAXA Vice President Koichi Wakata. "We aim at launching such a rover into space in 2029." **READ MORE:** [Japan Wants to Put a Toyota on the Moon]() \[*Bloomberg*\] **More on Moon rovers:** *[The Chinese Moon Rover Could Be Scouting for Interplanetary Fuel]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()