AKRON, Ohio Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. recently announced news that is out of this world. The company will supply advanced lunar tires for NASA’s Artemis program, which is expected to support Moon missions beginning in 2028.
It won’t be the first time Goodyear tires have rolled across the rugged, cratered surface of the Moon; however, an interesting sidenote is that Goodyears were the first gas-filled rubber tires used in space, according to an article published last month by msn.com.
“During the Apollo 14 mission in 1971, a set of Goodyear nonpneumatic XLTs let Cmdr. Alan Shepard and Lunar Module Pilot Edgar Mitchell haul equipment and lunar rocks around on their two-wheeled cart, called the Modular Equipment Transporter,” the article said.
Fast forward to the present time and Goodyear will supply advanced lunar tires for Lunar Outpost’s Pegasus Lunar Terrain Vehicle, the tire company announced. The LTV is designed for operations at the lunar South Pole, which is known for its harsh environment.
Pegasus will allow astronauts to travel farther, operate longer and unlock new scientific exploration capabilities, according to Goodyear information.
“Goodyear’s lunar tires are built to meet this challenge, engineered to withstand extreme temperature swings, rocky surfaces and lowgravity conditions while helping astronauts move safely and confidently across the lunar surface. Drawing on advanced science and decades of experience, these tires build on Goodyear’s work in extreme environments on Earth and in the stars, said the press release.
Although Goodyear has a manufacturing plant located in Lawton, the advanced lunar tires for NASA’s Artemis program are designed and engineered in Akron, Ohio, where the company operates two Innovation Centers. Goodyear manufactures tires globally across 49 facilities in 19 countries.