Suzuki has partnered with ispace to develop the Hakuto-R lunar lander.
Suzuki Motors has partnered with Tokyo’s ispace, a private lunar exploration company for the development of the Hakuto-R lunar lander. Suzuki will extend its knowledge in structural analysis, including the lunar lander’s landing gear, such as the shock-absorption system. The company even plans on helping ispace with the simulation of touch down on the lunar surface to test the load capacity.
Currently, the company uses this education in the testing of its automobiles.
Suzuki claims to be a frontrunner in the manufacturing of small and lightweight, yet safe and reliable vehicles. So, this comes at no surprise that the company will be helping ispace in combating with one of the most important factors in the development of spacecraft, weight. Reduction in weight means the spacecraft will be making use of a lesser amount of fuel and thus making the project more economical and sustainable. Suzuki will also be doing expert level assimilation of materials in order to develop various components using technology it uses in its automobiles.
Suzuki is not new to the world of space exploration. Previously, it was a corporate partner of ispace’s Hakuto project which was part of the Google Lunar XPRIZE competition. The competition called for the first privately funded team to land robotic spacecraft on the lunar surface, travel 500 meters and send back visual data back to earth.
Suzuki-ispace Project
– Suzuki has partnered with ispace to develop Hakuto-R lunar lander
– The carmaker will extend its knowledge in structural analysis
– Will aid ispace with the simulation of touch down on the lunar surface to test the load capacity
