NASA announced this week that it has taken delivery of its first three Canoo electric vehicles. The vans have been specially designed to serve as Crew Transportation Vehicles (CTVs) to get astronauts the nine miles to from their quarters to the launch pad ahead of Artemis moon missions.
Designed with input from NASA, interior volume was a major consideration when the organization awarded Canoo the contract for its new CTVs in 2022. That’s because the astronauts who ride in them will be wearing their Orion crew survival system spacesuits.
The three vehicles will be able to transport the four astronauts and support personnel (including a spacesuit technician), while also carrying specialized equipment for the drive to Launch Pad 39B on launch day.
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“The collaboration between Canoo and our NASA representatives focused on the crews’ safety and comfort on the way to the pad ahead of their journey to the Moon,” said Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA’s Artemis launch director. “I have no doubt everyone who sees these new vehicles will feel the same sense of pride I have for this next endeavor of crewed Artemis missions.”
NASA says that it had input on a number of the more aesthetic design considerations, too. Representatives from the Astronaut Office helped select the interior and exterior markings, the colors, and even the wheel wells.
The CTVs will replace the Astrovans that have been in service since 1984. Based on a modified Airstream motorhome, the vehicles were used for decades but are now being replaced in order to keep up with the times.
“We are thrilled to be a part of the Artemis missions and to deliver NASA’s first zero-emission built for mission crew transportation vehicles,” said Tony Aquila, Canoo’s CEO. “It’s a very proud day for Canoo and all of our partners who worked so hard to ensure we perform our part to transport the astronauts for the first nine miles of every launch.”
For now, the CTVs will be used for astronaut training exercises at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In November 2024, the Canoo vehicles will take astronauts on the final earth-bound leg of their journey for the Artemis II mission. The 10-day flight will take astronauts around the moon and back as part of the program that ultimately intends to establish a long-term presence on Earth’s satellite.
