Establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon is an ambitious endeavour that requires international collaboration. A new generation of rovers with different capabilities will be essential, and partners around the world are working together to develop complementary technologies for the lunar surface.
Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, announced the award of three contracts totalling $14.6 million to advance the development of the new Canadian lunar utility rover. This investment marks the beginning of a long-term project that will draw on the skills and determination of experts across the country.
Canada's utility rover is set to provide critical assistance to astronauts and support operations, including transporting cargo, performing logistics and construction duties on the Moon. Over the next 18 months, Canadensys Aerospace Corporation, MDA Space and Mission Control will conduct preparatory studies to assess different options for the rover, including potential capacities depending on different sizes and scope.
The utility rover builds on decades of past investments in technology development that helped secure Canada's expertise in robotics, including rovers, and position our space sector for future opportunities related to lunar surface mobility. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) aims to develop a utility rover that lives up to both Canada's rich legacy in space and future ambitions for space exploration. These investments bring us closer to having a CSA astronaut live and work on the surface of the Moon.
