Questions and answers:
Who are the partners in the Lunar Utility Vehicle study? The team includes the Centre de Technologies Avancées BRP – Université de Sherbrooke and the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies, combining expertise in vehicle engineering and autonomous navigation.
What technology will support the Lunar Utility Vehicle? The study will integrate MDA Skymaker, a modular robotics suite derived from Canadarm technology, enabling scalable, autonomous lunar surface mobility.
What is the timeline or next step for the Lunar Utility Vehicle? The study is an initial phase following a successful autonomous lunar surface demonstration in December 2024, aimed at advancing technology readiness for future lunar missions.
BRAMPTON, Ontario - MDA Space Ltd. in Brampton, Ontario, announced it has been selected by the Canadian Space Agency in Saint-Hubert, Quebec, to conduct an early-phase study for Canada’s proposed Lunar Utility Vehicle.
The MDA Space-led team includes the Centre de Technologies Avancées BRP – Université de Sherbrooke in Sherbrooke, Quebec, and the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies in Toronto, Ontario. The MDA Space says that the partnership combines its mission-critical space systems expertise, CTA’s experience in rugged off-road vehicle development, and UTIAS’s leadership in autonomy algorithms.
The study is the first step in defining the LUV mission concept and technology development plan. It will address mission architecture, technology options, and risk assessments to ensure technologies for lunar logistics and mobility are mission-ready. This phase follows a December 2024 autonomous lunar surface demonstration by MDA Space at the Canadian Space Agency.
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Autonomy
As part of the effort, the team will integrate MDA Skymaker, a suite of scalable and modular space robotics derived from Canadarm technology, to support autonomous mobility on the lunar surface. The goal is to deliver adaptable and reliable operations in challenging lunar environments.
"We’re proud to be working alongside CTA and UTIAS to help shape Canada’s role in lunar exploration," said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space. "This early concept study will help build the foundation for new lunar logistics solutions to support long-term human presence on the Moon, enabling reliable delivery of cargo, resources, and mobility for future missions."
"We are honoured to bring our longstanding expertise in advanced vehicle engineering to this lunar initiative," said Éric Charlebois, general manager of the Centre de Technologies Avancées BRP – Université de Sherbrooke. "Our team is eager to apply our experience in designing and testing rugged, high-performance vehicles for extreme environments to the unique challenges of lunar mobility."
"Developing advanced autonomy for lunar vehicles demands both technical ingenuity and close collaboration," said Dr. Tim Barfoot of the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies. "UTIAS brings deep expertise in intelligent navigation and robotics essential for enabling reliable, self-directed operations on the Moon."
Jamie Whitney
Jamie Whitney joined the staff of Military & Aerospace Electronics and Intelligent Aerospace. He brings seven years of print newspaper experience to the aerospace and defense electronics industry.
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