Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • BEST PLACES TO WORK
  • News
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
  • Resources
    • ADVERTISE
    • AWARDS
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • DIRECTORY
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • Best Places to Work
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
September 20, 2022 11:45 AM

Bridgestone joins Teledyne-led team on lunar vehicle

Tire Business
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Bstone_LTV-main_i.jpg

    HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Bridgestone Corp. has agreed to work with Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc. on developing a form of a non-pneumatic "elastic wheel" for the crewed lunar terrain vehicle (LTV) Teledyne Brown is designing for NASA.

    Huntsville-based Teledyne Brown is one of a three companies competing for the contract to build the LTV that NASA's Artemis lunar missions mission will use on the space agency's plan to establish a lunar colony in the latter half of this decade.

    Teledyne Brown, a unit of Teledyne Technologies Inc., is working with Nissan North America Inc., Sierra Space Corp. and Textron Inc. on its design for the LTV, which will allow crews on the lunar missions to navigate unexplored areas on the moon.

    The LTV will be expected to endure extreme temperatures and harsh environments over long periods of time to support crew mobility and research efforts, Teledyne Brown said.

    NASA's brief for the LTV describes a vehicle capable of carrying two suited crew members, capable of carrying them and 250 kilograms of gear up to 20 kilometers at speeds up to 15 km/h and last up to 10 years in the harsh lunar environment.

    NASA did not say when it expects to pick the winning entry for the LTV but did say it needs an operatinal LTV no later than August 2028.

    Bridgestone has been researching potential designs for tires for crewed lunar vehicles since 2019. To ensure tire function and safety under difficult operating conditions (rocky and sandy desert with exposure to extreme temperatures and cosmic ray radiation), Bridgestone has chosen to focus on developing and validating metal airless tire concepts.

    Bridgestone said it is leveraging its "mastering road contact" technology that is a core-competency acquired from various experiences on roads around the world.

    "This partnership helps further solidify the strength of our team and the durable vehicle that will be a product of its collaboration," Scott Hall, president of Teledyne's Engineered Systems Segment, said.

    "The experience and reputation of Bridgestone is unparalleled and a tremendous asset for our vehicle in its journey to and on the moon's surface."

    Makoto Ishiyama, executive director, next generation technology development, for Bridgestone, called this project is a "bold new challenge for humanity" and said it will help the company fulfill its commitment to "nonstop mobility and innovation" that's part of Bridgestone's E8 corporate strategy commitment.

    "Through co-creation with new partners, Bridgestone is dedicated to realizing the dream of humankind with mobility innovation."

    The Teledyne Brown LTV program is one of at least three initiatives working on the LTV concept

    Others working an LTV concept are a team led by Lockheed Martin and General Motors Co., which includes Goodyear, and a team led by aerospace giant Northrop Grumman Corp. and involving Michelin Group. AVL List G.m.b.H., Intuitive Machines L.L.C. and Lunar Outpost Inc.

    Both Goodyear and Michelin are working on non-pneumatic concepts for their respective projects.

    Related Article
    Goodyear, Lockheed Martin partner for moon mobility
    Michelin reaching for the moon with airless tire technology
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Goodyear to cut jobs, divest Asia-Pacific locations
    2
    Best-One Tire Group marks 75 years in business
    3
    Canada court rules for Michelin in tire trademark case
    4
    Tire Business ranks the Top 75 Tire Makers of 2023
    5
    Key issues of UAW strike on Ford, GM and Stellantis
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • News
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • HUMANITARIAN
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
      • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • Resources
      • ADVERTISE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • DIRECTORY
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
    • DIGITAL EDITION