Toyota’s regenerative fuel cell to power Lunar Rover, tapping moon’s water ice for energy

Japan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, has significantly amplified its space exploration aspirations. The nation is actively engaged in NASA’s Artemis program and has set its sights on stationing an astronaut at the lunar space station named Gateway in the latter half of the 2020s.

Since 2019, Toyota has been collaborating with Japan’s space agency to create a manned lunar rover, which they have aptly named the Lunar Cruiser. The ambitious goal is to deploy this innovative rover on the moon by the year 2029.

“In order to conduct long-term and stable research on the surface of the moon, we are aiming to source various items on site over a long period,” said Ken Yamashita, head of lunar exploration projects at Toyota.

According to presentation materials released on Friday, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has confirmed that NASA has requested Japan to contribute a lunar rover to the Artemis program. The target launch date for this rover is set for the year 2029.

In a fuel cell vehicle, similar to an electric vehicle, an electric motor is employed. However, the power is derived from a fuel stack that employs a catalyst to split hydrogen, generating electricity.

Toyota has announced that its technology will take advantage of solar energy and water to create hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis during daylight hours. Subsequently, the fuel cells will utilize this stored hydrogen to supply electricity during the night.

With the assistance of this technology, the lunar rover would have the remarkable capability to continue its journey uninterrupted for many days at a stretch, even during the 14-day long dark and extremely cold lunar nights.

The leading automaker, known for its highest sales, aims to secure an order for the manned lunar rover by the autumn of the following year. This advanced vehicle is projected to accommodate two astronauts during a 42-day mission each year and maintain its operational status for an impressive span of 10 years, according to the company’s statement.

“Our idea is to continue with the lunar rover longer than those 10 years if there’s a company or arrangement that can supply the water needed for that,” Yamashita said, adding that clean water will initially have to be sent into space with it.

Yamashita, while offering caution, mentioned that Toyota does not anticipate being able to produce usable water for fuel cells directly from the moon’s ice water, nor does it expect to undertake the mining of it independently. Instead, the company is more likely to depend on collaborations with other companies or rely on future technological advancements for such capabilities.

Updated: 22 Jul 2023, 09:38 AM IST

Japan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, has significantly amplified its space exploration aspirations. The nation is actively engaged in NASA’s Artemis program and has set its sights on stationing an astronaut at the lunar space station named Gateway in the latter half of the 2020s.

Since 2019, Toyota has been collaborating with Japan’s space agency to create a manned lunar rover, which they have aptly named the Lunar Cruiser. The ambitious goal is to deploy this innovative rover on the moon by the year 2029.

“In order to conduct long-term and stable research on the surface of the moon, we are aiming to source various items on site over a long period,” said Ken Yamashita, head of lunar exploration projects at Toyota.

According to presentation materials released on Friday, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has confirmed that NASA has requested Japan to contribute a lunar rover to the Artemis program. The target launch date for this rover is set for the year 2029.

In a fuel cell vehicle, similar to an electric vehicle, an electric motor is employed. However, the power is derived from a fuel stack that employs a catalyst to split hydrogen, generating electricity.

Toyota has announced that its technology will take advantage of solar energy and water to create hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis during daylight hours. Subsequently, the fuel cells will utilize this stored hydrogen to supply electricity during the night.

With the assistance of this technology, the lunar rover would have the remarkable capability to continue its journey uninterrupted for many days at a stretch, even during the 14-day long dark and extremely cold lunar nights.

The leading automaker, known for its highest sales, aims to secure an order for the manned lunar rover by the autumn of the following year. This advanced vehicle is projected to accommodate two astronauts during a 42-day mission each year and maintain its operational status for an impressive span of 10 years, according to the company’s statement.

“Our idea is to continue with the lunar rover longer than those 10 years if there’s a company or arrangement that can supply the water needed for that,” Yamashita said, adding that clean water will initially have to be sent into space with it.

Yamashita, while offering caution, mentioned that Toyota does not anticipate being able to produce usable water for fuel cells directly from the moon’s ice water, nor does it expect to undertake the mining of it independently. Instead, the company is more likely to depend on collaborations with other companies or rely on future technological advancements for such capabilities.

Updated: 22 Jul 2023, 09:38 AM IST