First-Ever Moon Motorcycle Concept Sets To Keep Lunar Exploration Costs Low
Image via Hookie
Motorcycle design company Hookie has come up with the first-ever prototype for a two-wheeler designed to explore the moon.
Named the ‘Tardigrade’, after the animal, this vehicle claims to weigh much lighter than the usual moon buggies astronauts use, with the firm saying it’s a less costly option for travel in space.
According to Interesting Engineering, this invention could prove to be a big deal for the industry. At the moment, transporting a kilogram (2.2 lbs) of goods to space costs US$2,270, making it a priority for missions to lighten their payloads.
NASA’s moon buggy clocks in at 463 lbs, while Hookie’s Tardigrade weighs just 308 lbs, saving a substantial amount of money and space for trips to la luna.
Image via Hookie
Hookie’s co-founders Nico and Sylvia Müller had first been inspired by a digital concept created by artist Andrew Fabishevskiy. After obtaining permission, they set out to make a real-life version of the electric bike.
Nico explained that as the lunar buggy didn’t need to adhere to Germany’s strict technical inspection rules, they were able to break free from the usual constraints and focus on making the bike as lightweight as possible.
“On our Tardigrade, we had the opportunity to work with brands like Dupont Kevlar and Cake together. Authenticity for every detail was the goal in the design process,” Nico said.
Eventually, the duo crafted a moon bike with an invisible frame, boasting incredibly thin aluminum and axels made out of lightweight metal. They then covered the frame in tubing and combined it with a Kevlar cover to protect the vehicle from space radiation, impacts, and the freezing temperatures on the moon. The engine was provided by sustainable Swedish manufacturer Cake.
Image via Hookie
No part of such a grand project could’ve been easy, but according to the firm, creating the bike’s balloon wheels was the hardest part. The pair made the wheels out of light alloy, before creating its own air-less tires via 3D printing.
The entire system is made out of many small parts, which could prove beneficial if something were to get broken, as the astronauts could just replace that component instead of the entire wheel.
As of now, Hookie has yet to secure a deal with any space ventures. Nico said, “NASA knows about our Tardigrade project [and] it would be amazing to talk about future collaborations or ideas. We’re totally up for this.”
The Tardigrade will go on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in the US from mid-October.
Image via Hookie
[via Interesting Engineering, images via Hookie]
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