Canoo Transporting NASA Astronauts, Too

Canoo should be doing one thing proper — it has executed an awesome job touchdown notable US authorities contracts, which isn’t simple to do. We reported on the U.S. Division of Protection (DOD) ordering Canoo electrical autos again in December and February. A number of days in the past, I wrote that the partnership with the DOD was already increasing. Now we even have information that Canoo has landed a contract with NASA.

Canoo not too long ago delivered three Crew Transportation Autos (CTVs) to NASA’s Kennedy Area Middle in Florida. “These autos will transport the astronauts to the launch pad for the Artemis lunar missions,” the corporate writes.

How cool do they appear?

“We’re thrilled to be part of the Artemis missions and to ship NASA’s first zero-emission constructed for mission crew transportation autos,” says Tony Aquila, Chairman and CEO, Canoo. “It’s a really proud day for Canoo and all of our companions who labored so arduous to make sure we carry out our half to move the astronauts for the primary 9 miles of each launch.”

Now, let’s be sincere — this isn’t essentially the most rigorous transportation service requirement. The Canoo EVs don’t must drive on the moon or throughout a desert. They’re transporting astronauts 9 miles. (Now that I give it some thought, I’m curious what they do the remainder of the time.) It’s extra of a stupendous advertising and marketing alternative than anything (which once more makes me surprise what connections the Canoo management staff has). Nonetheless, it does include some specialised wants and circumstances.

“The CTVs are engineered to hold absolutely suited astronauts, flight help crew, and gear to the launch pad,” the corporate writes. “The autos have an unique inside and exterior design that may present astronaut and crew consolation and security whereas on the nine-mile journey to the launch pad at Kennedy Area Middle.” The pictures above are simply computer-generated visualizations. Canoo will present precise inside and exterior photos of the CTVs later this yr.

What’s Artemis II, by the best way? Good query — for these of us who don’t comply with area information intently, that’s most likely a little bit of a thriller. Right here’s the reply, by way of Canoo: “The Artemis II is the primary crewed mission that’s a part of NASA’s plan to determine a long-term presence on the Moon for science and exploration. The ten-day flight will take a look at NASA’s foundational human deep area exploration capabilities, the Area Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the primary time with astronauts.”

Naturally, as cool as it’s that Canoo EVs will transport NASA astronauts 9 miles to the Kennedy Area Middle, it’s probably they may bear in mind their subsequent automobile significantly better. The spaceship they may experience in might want to journey greater than 240,000 miles to the moon.

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