During the Paris Air Show over the weekend, Venturi Group showcased this deformable lunar rover wheel.
They claim to have reinvented the wheel, which will be mounted on their Astrolab Flex lunar lander, set to be transported to the moon by SpaceX’s Starship in 2026.
Previous wheels used in lunar missions have always been solid, but this one, as you can see, can deform in various ways, making it more robust and durable. The wheels are designed to support the two-ton vehicle without any issues, and the maximum speed they will reach is not more than 20 km/h.
Each wheel contains 192 cables that function as flexible spokes. Leading up to the mission, the wheel will undergo testing at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland and the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston.
