How to Avoid a Puncture on the Moon

How to Avoid a Puncture on the Moon
Category: Science, 2025-05-12 23:08

Major tire manufacturers are developing and testing tires designed to withstand the harsh conditions on the Moon and Mars, aiming to support future lunar and Martian missions with more durable and reliable vehicles.

As humanity prepares to return to the Moon after more than fifty years and sets its sights on Mars, one of the key engineering challenges is ensuring that vehicles can operate reliably in extreme extraterrestrial environments. Unlike Earth, the Moon and Mars present unique hazards for vehicles, including sharp rocks, extreme temperature fluctuations, and the absence of atmosphere, which can all contribute to tire punctures or failures. During the Apollo missions, lunar rovers were equipped with lightweight wire-mesh wheels, but these designs had limitations in durability and load-bearing capacity. Today, leading tire companies are working on advanced tire technologies that can survive the rigors of lunar and Martian terrain. These new tires are being tested for resistance to punctures, flexibility in low temperatures, and the ability to handle abrasive dust and rocks. The development of such robust tires is crucial for the success of upcoming missions, as reliable mobility will be essential for transporting astronauts, equipment, and scientific instruments across the surfaces of the Moon and Mars. The ongoing research and testing by these companies represent a significant step forward in space exploration technology.
Source: BBC
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