Astronauts perform tasks during an early Artemis mission without the added benefit of a rover
Credit: NASA
While NASA is aiming for a crewed lunar landing by 2024, the activities that will be undertaken during that first crewed mission, and the attendant equipment needed to accomplish them, are still being developed. One piece of hardware that will apparently not be included is a new lunar rover. While the astronauts are intended to remain on the Moon for over six days, driving to their objectives will not be a part of their activities during the four scheduled Moonwalks, as a new rover is not planned until the second mission at the earliest. Nonetheless, given the quartet of four-hour EVAs, the agency expects the astronauts to cover up to 10 miles (16.1 kilometers) on their own two booted feet. This limit will be dictated by safety concerns over walkback requirements (the distance an astronaut can cover if a suit malfunctions or in case of injury or illness), and the fact that the missions will be focused on the south lunar pole (the Apollo landings were all close to the lunar equator), where the deep cold found there may be a concern.