Get to Know Toyota’s Futuristic Moon Rover

Aug 27, 2019 | GOV, Japan, NEWS

Culture & Travel 

You’re not going to believe what’s coming in store this 2030. Toyota has teamed up with Japan’s space agency to make the biggest and most ambitious moon rover yet

Japan is no stranger to technological breakthroughs. Now, the country is leading the scene once more as it plans to perfect the best moon rover yet in just 10 years.

The country aims to send astronauts to the moon before China. This multi-manned mission is expected to happen in 2030. The proposal was submitted by Japan’s Space Agency JAXA to challenge China’s timeline which projected to do the same thing in 2036.

The Futuristic Ride

Of course, astronauts need a fantastic vehicle to match the country’s effort, and that will come to life with the help of Toyota. The company plans to build a six-wheeled vehicle big enough to fit 2 people in its 140 square feet of habitable space. However, this could carry as much as 4 people should there be emergencies.

It is set to be powered by solar and fuel cell technology and will take the astronauts on a 621-mile journey. The solar panels are deployable to make charging easier. It will also be equipped with communication equipment and a front winch to get itself out of issues such as jams.

The said ride is expected to be 12 feet tall, 17 feet wide, and 20 feet long, similar to the size of two microbuses. The best part is, astronauts, don’t even need to wear a spacesuit while inside the vehicle thanks to pressurization.

“The rover will be used for missions to explore the moon’s polar regions, with the aim both of investigating the possibility of using the moon’s resources ― such as frozen water ― and of acquiring technologies that enable exploration of the surfaces of massive heavenly bodies,” according to Toyota’s statement.

While the project may be ambitious, Japan has high hopes to make it. Should it be successful, it would change the “magnificent desolation” perspective of the moon.

Timeline

Developing a vehicle designed for moon exploration isn’t exactly easy. Toyota and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency or JAXA signed a three-year joint research agreement from 2019 to 2021.

To meet their deadlines, Toyota and JAXA plans to complete different phases of the vehicle’s development. This year, they will focus on identifying the elements that they need to drive on the moon’s surface. The prototype will also be drawn up.

Next year, the companies will start manufacturing important test parts to meet the technological elements for the prototype rover which will be tested and evaluated in 2021. By 2027, the companies are expected to finish manufacturing and testing the quality and performance of the flight model just in time for its launch in 2030.

The vehicle is set to arrive on the moon earlier than the astronauts and will drive autonomously to welcome them.

Quest to the Moon

Japan is not the only country that aims to explore the moon. India initially wanted a piece of the cake but was forced to postpone its plan due to a technical snag. The launch of the probe named Chandrayaan 2 was canceled less than an hour before the blast. This mishap greatly affected the country’s aim to be the fourth country to land a spacecraft on the lunar surface.

“A technical snag was observed in launch vehicle system at 1 hour before the launch. As a measure of abundant precaution, #Chandrayaan2 launch has been called off for today. Revised launch date will be announced later,” said the Indian Space Research Organization in a tweet.

Currently, only the United States, China, and Russia have successfully landed space crafts on the moon.

Now, it seems that another race is beginning. Aside from Japan, China, and India, Donald Trump, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk have also announced their goal to get people back to the moon.

BTS Walks Louis Vuitton FW21 Show in Korea

It seems BTS did not only take k-pop by storm but also fashion. The K-pop group walked Louis Vuitton’s FW21 runway as their global ambassadors. The pop icons graced the show in a fashion film directed by Jeon Go-woon.

Chinese Hunt for Escaped Leopard Dangles Chickens as Bait

Residents in a Chinese city were warned to stay indoors as authorities released flocks of chickens as bait to track down a leopard that escaped from a safari park, state media reported Tuesday.

Myanmar Junta Cuts Internet as Troops Fire to Break up Protest

Myanmar cut internet service and deployed troops around the country on Monday in signs of a feared crackdown on anti-coup protests, hours after security forces fired to disperse a demonstration in the country’s north.

India Doctors Warn of Deadly Fungal Infection in COVID-19 Patients

A growing number of current and recovered Covid-19 patients in India are contracting a deadly and rare fungal infection, doctors told AFP Monday as the vast nation battles to contain a massive outbreak of virus cases.

Animal Tourism in Asia: Abused for Cheap Tricks

Do animals deserve to be chained to a life of suffering for a few bucks?

Taiwan Bans Large Events after Small Coronavirus Outbreak

Taiwan on Tuesday banned large gatherings after a cluster of local infections prompted authorities to raise the coronavirus alert level in a place with one of the world’s best pandemic responses.

Cambodians Condemn Photo-Editing Job on Genocide Victims

Cambodians who lost family during the Khmer Rouge genocide Sunday slammed an Irish artist’s decision to digitally add smiles to old black and white pictures of victims killed by the regime.

Robot Helps Indian Shoppers Maintain Social Distancing

As long, jostling queues formed outside liquor stores in India during the easing of a coronavirus lockdown, Karthik Velayutham found a way to maintain social distancing — by building a robot to shop for him.

Pakistani Brides Trafficked in China

Vulnerable Pakistani brides are tricked into marrying Chinese men in China and are subjected to horrible acts such as abuse, organ extraction, and prostitution.

Dong Fangzhuo: Former Manchester Football Star Finds Calling in Coaching

Dong Fangzhuo smiles at the memory. It was Christmas, he was far from home and legendary Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson took pity on him by arranging a holiday get-together.

Pakistani Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai Signs Apple TV Deal

Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, who won the Nobel Peace Prize as a teenager after surviving a Taliban assassination attempt, has signed a deal with Apple TV+ that will see her produce dramas and documentaries that focus on women and children.

Biden Blames ‘Weak’ Trump for Hong Kong Clampdown

The US House of Representatives agreed unanimously Wednesday to seek tough sanctions on Chinese officials and Hong Kong police after Beijing imposed a security law that clamps down on the city.

Chinese Death-Row Inmate Escape from Indonesian Jail via a Sewer

A Chinese drug trafficker on death row escaped from a jail near Indonesia’s capital after digging a 30-meter (100 feet) tunnel from his cell, police said.

Fukushima Operators to Build Undersea Tunnel to Release Treated Water

Operators of Japan’s stricken Fukushima nuclear plant unveiled plans Wednesday to construct an undersea tunnel to release more than a million tonnes of treated water from the site into the ocean.

Japanese Yakitori Chicken Is Now Approved for Space Mission

Japanese chicken yakitori kebabs, one of the country’s most-loved fast foods, will soon be making an appearance in orbit after Japan’s space agency cleared them for astronaut meals.

Virus Strikes Twice for India’s First COVID Patient

India’s first coronavirus patient, a student who was in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has tested positive for a second time, a medical official told AFP on Wednesday.

Bilibili Reveals Loaded Chinese Anime 2020 Lineup

Bilibili recently introduced 27 new Chinese anime, including 13 updates to existing series. The announcement came after their celebration for having the strongest revenue growth in half a decade. Are you ready for it?

Taiwan-Macau Gay Couple Win Legal Battle for Marriage Recognition

A Taiwan court ruled in favour of a Taiwanese-Macanese gay couple on Thursday in a legal test case greeted by activists as a first step towards getting full recognition of same-sex unions with foreigners.

Children Become Nuns to Escape Conflict in Myanmar

Teenager Dhama Theingi dreams of becoming an engineer and playing football, but for now she must rise for dawn prayers before pounding Yangon’s streets to collect alms as one of Myanmar’s growing number of child nuns seeking refuge from conflict.

Apple Users Urged to Download Pegasus Spyware Flaw Fix

Apple users were urged Tuesday to update their devices after the tech giant announced a fix for a major software flaw that allows the Pegasus spyware to be installed on phones without so much as a click.

Most Breathtaking Beaches in The Philippines

Want to skip the dull weather and head to a tropical paradise in the Philippines? We’ve rounded up the best beach destinations in the country just for you

Express Delivery: Mothers Rally to Donate Vital Breastmilk

Whisked out of her Hong Kong home by medics in protective gear, Catherine Kosasih didn’t know if or when she would see her children — aged just four months and 21 months — again.

COVID-19: WHO Warns ‘No Evidence’ on Immunity from Second Infection

The World Health Organization warned on Saturday recovering from coronavirus may not protect people from reinfection as the death toll from the pandemic approached 200,000 around the globe.

Singapore Arrests Couple in Taiwan Baby-Dumping Case

A Singaporean couple have been arrested over the death of a newborn baby found dumped in the trash in Taiwan two years ago, police in the city-state said.

Stephen Chow Confirms News Of Upcoming ‘Kung Fu Hustle 2’ Movie

Stephen Chow, the star and director of the hit cult-classic martial arts movie “Kung Fu Hustle” has all but confirmed that a sequel of some sort is now underway and the fans couldn’t be more excited for this news.

Taiwan’s Wheelchair Athletes Dancing Their Way to World Championship

Taiwanese athletes Vincent Kuo and Ivy Huang each discovered an electric talent for wheelchair dancing on their own, but it was when they were paired up together that the sparks really flew.

Singapore Activists Appeal Gay Sex Ban Court Ruling

Three Singapore campaigners launched an appeal Monday against a court’s decision to uphold a law banning sex between men, the latest effort to overturn the colonial-era legislation.

BTS Producer Becomes South Korea’s Best-Paid Employee

The producer behind K-pop sensation BTS was the highest-paid employee in South Korea in the first half of this year, reports said Wednesday, outranking some of the country’s richest business leaders.

Malaysia Suspected MH370 Downed in Murder-Suicide from the Beginning: Aussie Ex-PM

Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has claimed “very top” level Malaysian officials believed vanished Flight MH370 was deliberately downed by the captain in a mass murder-suicide.

Dying To Be White: India’s Whiteness Complex

India’s fixation on whiteness is as old as the country’s history – but where is it leading now?

India: Modi’s Bold Claim ‘Open-Defecation Free’ in Question

India is to be declared “open-defecation free” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday evening, although experts question his bold claim that all 1.3 billion people in the country have access to a toilet.

Thailand Arrests Two for Posting ‘Fake News’ on Coronavirus

Thai authorities arrested two people for posting “fake news” about the coronavirus as a senior official on Thursday warned internet users to think twice before sharing incorrect information about the pathogen.

The Search For MH370 After 5 Years

The on-and-off search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 may once again be resumed

Egos Clash in Bezos and Musk Space Race

Even the Milky Way seems too small to keep the egos of tech billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk from colliding as they vie to conquer space.

Modern Art Vietnam: A Case of Breaking Away

“Vietnam’s contemporary art scene is still under the shadow of its war-torn history – but its artists are finding homes elsewhere in the world.”

Social Credit App: The Perfect System to Spy on Each Other Until Every Citizen is Covered

By the end of 2020, China is expected to have a “social credit system” in place to rank each of the 1.4 billion citizens according to their behavior. The most disciplined and loyal citizens rank high. Critics rank quite low. Religious and ethnic minorities rank the lowest irrespective of whether they are disciplined. 

Wuhan is Now a Ghost Town Under Quarantine

Wuhan residents called for help and shared worries of food shortages Thursday, with streets in the virus-hit central Chinese city left deserted after it was put on lockdown.

China Places 5 Million More under Lockdown to Stamp out Virus Cluster

Chinese authorities sealed off a city of almost five million people and imposed strict travel restrictions on several others on Tuesday as they worked to quash a number of Covid-19 clusters near Beijing.

Lady Gaga ‘Praying’ for Japan on 2011 Disaster Anniversary

Lady Gaga added her voice to the diplomats and dignitaries sending condolences to Japan on Thursday to mark 10 years since its catastrophic earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

The War on Children as the World Stands By: 415 Million in Conflict Zones

Government, on Thursday, were urged to do more to protect children from the effects of war and serious violence, after a new report suggested record numbers were living in a conflict zone.

Cure Aqua Gel: Japan’s Number One Exfoliator

The award-winning exfoliator skincare has changed lives around the world, letting people achieve their ultimate skin goals

Cambodian Double Amputee Artist Fights Stigma Through Art

Whispered insults, social isolation, and lost opportunities — Morn Chear is channelling the stigma he has endured since he lost both his hands a decade ago into artwork that highlights the hardships of Cambodia’s disabled.

Indian Officials Capture Rare Snow Leopard

A rare snow leopard captured as it savaged livestock in a remote village in the Indian Himalaya will be sent to a zoo instead of being released, officials said Sunday, triggering outrage from activists.

Japan Urged People to Seek Help after the Death of Actress Yuko Takeuchi

Japan’s government Monday urged people to seek help if they were struggling to cope, following the death at the weekend of a popular actress.

Australian Celeb Health Guru Adds Fuel to ‘Infodemic’

One minute Australian “wellness” personality Pete Evans is posting a barbecued prawn recipe to 1.5 million Facebook followers, the next he’s claiming the coronavirus pandemic is an elaborate global hoax.

Thousands Arrested for ‘Virus-Related Crimes’ in China

Nearly 5,800 people suspected of killing health workers, selling defective medical equipment and lying about their travel history have been arrested in China for epidemic-related crimes since January, the state prosecutor’s office said.

Beyond Burgers: Asia Puts Twist on Alternative Meats

From lab-grown “seafood” to dumplings made with tropical fruit instead of pork, rising demand for sustainable meat alternatives in Asia is spawning creative products to appeal to local palates.

Google Rallies YouTubers against Australian News Payment Plan

Google has urged YouTubers around the world to complain to Australian authorities as it ratchets up its campaign against a plan to force digital giants to pay for news content.

This LED Mask May Solve All Your Skin Problems

Korean beauty products are truly taking over the scene, and there’s one product that stands out among the rest – LED masks. Leading health and beauty brand Cellreturn is leading the pack with its convenient and ultra-effective products you can use at home.

LVMH’s Luxury Goods Blockchain: A Lost Cause

​Global conglomerate LVMH launched a blockchain that will help track its luxury goods internationally, But how effective is using crypto to protect itself from pirates?

‘Dance Monkey’ Teenage Singer Went from Streets to Global Stardom

Australian pop hit “Dance Monkey” is topping global charts and has spent a record 16 weeks at number one Down Under, propelling teenager Toni Watson from busking obscurity to instant fame.