A step towards the moon for Michelin
This is not the first time Michelin has collaborated with NASA teams. For 30 years - from 1981 to 2011 - we were the exclusive supplier of tires for the main landing gear and the front auxiliary landing gear of NASA space shuttles.
As part of NASA's ARTEMIS program, a new chapter in the history of lunar exploration, our aim is to design a revolutionary wheel for a lunar vehicle (1). To achieve this, we are drawing on our expertise developed over more than 20 years in both airless mobility solutions MICHELIN UPTIS and MICHELIN TWEEL and high-tech materials.
Airless tire technology
Michelin will leverage its expertise in airless tires and its knowledge of high-tech materials to design a lunar wheel capable of withstanding extreme temperatures (over 100°C and below -240°C) and solar and galactic radiation that accelerate material ageing, while preserving the rover’s battery life and providing maximum traction and grip on an aggressive, loose soil.
We believe that the technical developments and scientific advances that will be made as part of this project will enable us to continue innovating in terrestrial applications.
(1) Feasibility study. Wheel prototype potentially for use in moon rovers, as part of NASA's ARTEMIS project. Michelin is part of the Moon Racer team, led by Intuitive Machines, which also includes AVL, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman Corporation.
