NASA's Artemis Crew Transport Vehicles Arrive At Kennedy Space Center

Today, NASA received their NASA's Artemis program fleet at NASA Kennedy Space Center. The fleet of specially designed vehicles will transport astronauts on the final leg of their journey to the Moon from Crew Quarters to Launch Complex 39B.

Canoo Technologies Inc., a manufacturer based in Torrance, California, successfully delivered three fully electric crew transportation vehicles to NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The zero-emission vehicles are set to play a pivotal role in the Artemis missions by providing a safe and environmentally friendly mode of transport for astronauts and support personnel.

The newly delivered vehicles have been meticulously tailored to meet NASA's unique specifications for the Artemis missions while also paying tribute to the agency's rich legacy in human spaceflight and space exploration. Every detail, from the interior and exterior markings to the color scheme and wheel wells, has been carefully chosen by a creative team consisting of the Artemis launch director and representatives from NASA's Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Their valuable insights were incorporated from the conceptual phase all the way through the production process. Canoo Technologies was awarded the contract to manufacture these vehicles in April 2022, further solidifying their expertise in the field.

Capable of carrying four astronauts donning their Orion crew survival system spacesuits, along with support personnel, including a spacesuit technician, and specialized equipment, the fleet of vehicles will facilitate the journey from the crew's quarters at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building to Launch Pad 39B.

The vehicles are designed not only to ensure the comfort and safety of the crew but also to embody the spirit of NASA's space exploration efforts.

"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...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" - Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA's Artemis Launch Director

The introduction of these vehicles signifies a departure from the earlier Astrovans that were used during the Apollo and Space Shuttle Programs at Kennedy Space Center.

While the path to the launch pad may bear similarities, the mode of transportation has evolved to adapt to the times and advancements in technology.

Prior to their deployment for Artemis II, the first crewed mission under the Artemis program, the fleet will be utilized for extensive astronaut training exercises at the spaceport. This approximately 10-day flight will mark the first instance of testing NASA's foundational capabilities for human deep space exploration with astronauts on board. The Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft will undergo rigorous testing, paving the way for future lunar surface missions, including the historic achievement of landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

With the arrival of the customized fleet of vehicles, NASA's Artemis program takes another step toward bringing humanity back to the Moon.