Roo-ver Mission: Making Australia’s first lunar rover

Australian Made technologies are launching into new cosmic endeavours, with “Roo-ver” set to be the first lunar rover made on Australian soil.

Manufactured by Lunar Outpost Oceania, a leader in space and terrestrial robotics, the Australian Made Roo-ver is part of the next era of space exploration for Australia. The ELO₂Consortium (ELO₂) was selected by the Commonwealth to design, build and operate an Australian Made lunar rover on the Moon’s surface later this decade.

ELO₂is co-led by EPE Oceania and Australian Made licensee, Lunar Outpost Oceania, and is made up of 21 key collaborators from across Australia – including 10 universities, several educational foundations, and a range of industry partners.

“ELO₂ is empowering Australia’s brightest minds to design, deliver, and operate this high-assurance lunar robotics mission,” said Kathie van Vugt, Operations Director of Lunar Outpost Oceania.

Once on the Moon, Roo-ver will be controlled from Earth to undertake research on lunar regolith (soil and rocks). This research is an important step in establishing a sustainable long-term human presence on the Moon, as the regolith has the potential to hold oxygen, and other important volatiles, such as water ice, which are critical for future human visitors.

The journey to get to this point has been one of dedication, expertise, and innovation, with the development of four rover prototypes over 15 months. Roo-ver was then named by the Australian public in a competition that saw over 8,000 entries, reflecting how Australian science is taking the next leap all the way up into space.

“The ELO₂ prototypes are proudly built in Australia. We’re not only ensuring the sustainability of the industry but also growing local jobs, building Australia’s economy, and helping Australia make its mark in the global space ecosystem,” said Kathie.

“We’re committed to cultivating a robust supply chain ecosystem in Australia, undertaking research and development onshore, developing commercial initiatives, and enhancing Australia’s technological sovereignty and self-sufficiency.”

ELO₂’s next step in building Roo-ver will rely primarily on Australian manufacturing partners who will be selected later this year. Different processes are needed for the physical models and hardware, including additive and traditional subtractive manufacturing capabilities, and several candidates have already been identified.

ELO₂Consortium Director from co-lead EPE Oceania, Ben Sorensen, said “This is a national mission for Australia, and we’ve put together a team made of the best and most exciting people and organisations from across the country. Leveraging this expertise and these resources from all our partners is what will see us deliver a successful mission.”

“The Roo-ver Mission will showcase Australia’s world-leading capabilities for Space. But the scientific and technological advancements we make on this mission will have impact far beyond this field – it will boost productivity and competitiveness in other key Australian industries like mining, agriculture, advanced manufacturing and more. We’re proud of our commitment that all the technologies we develop will remain here in Australia.”

For the team at Lunar Outpost Oceania, this project’s commitment to advancing Australian space technologies and manufacturing is reflected in the Australian Made logo itself.

“To us, the Australian Made logo is not just a symbol of celebrating products; it’s about recognising the skill and dedication that go into producing them,” said Kathie. “Supporting Australian-made products - even space robots that we can send to the Moon - ensures that we maintain control over quality, invest in our communities, and secure a robust future for Australian industries and the Australian supply chain.”

“Certifying our rover with Australian Made logo was the perfect opportunity to effectively showcase the ingenuity, tradecraft, and cutting-edge technology that our ELO₂Consortium partners offer.”

When it comes to validating the project’s success in the future, ELO₂ looks beyond the rover itself, and instead at the wider impact that this Australian Made story will have on the country’s capabilities and industry.

In making Roo-ver, the Consortium looks to have a positive impact on the development of the Australian space ecosystem, generate employment growth, bring investment and skillsets to the Australian space sector, and inspire the Australian space industry.

“We have many aims with this project, from fostering innovation and supporting Australian jobs to building the local space industry and cultivating a collaborative supply chain ecosystem in Australia,” said Kathie.

“ELO₂’s influence and impact will extend well beyond the immediate scope of the Roo-ver mission, and will see a long-enduring benefit of technological advancement for Australia.”