Conceptual new ATHLETE lunar wheel.
JPL will produce a set of six advanced non-pneumatic wheels that are appropriate for use on the ATHLETE rovers. These wheels will be comprised of materials that are appropriate for use in the lunar environment and will be designed to have a lifetime far surpassing that of the Apollo LRV wheels. These wheels will replace the existing terrestrial Tweels currently in use on ATHLETE and be subjected to significant testing in harsh terrain. To this end, NASA Glenn Research Center has agreed to evaluate the design using their drawbar pull and slope test facilities. In addition, Michelin has agreed to professionally evaluate the performance and lifetime of these wheels at their R&D facility in South Carolina.
