The German engineering firm Hookie has unveiled the Tardigrade, the pioneering concept for a two-wheeled lunar motorcycle. Still in the design phase, this innovative vehicle is engineered to reach speeds of 15 km/h across the Moon's surface.
NASA's Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), introduced during the Apollo missions, first rolled out on July 31, 1971, with Apollo 15. This reliable two-seater hauled over 490 kg of payload at up to 14 km/h through extreme temperatures, low gravity, and rugged terrain. It expanded astronauts' reach, unlocking key insights into the Moon's geology and origins.
Proven essential in Apollo, lunar rovers remain vital for upcoming exploration. Recently, Lockheed Martin and General Motors revealed an advanced electric lunar rover for NASA's Artemis program, supporting at least two astronauts and enabling sustainable Moon presence within the decade.
While major players advance four-wheeled designs, Hookie's team in Germany is reimagining mobility with two wheels. The Tardigrade draws its name from the resilient tardigrade, or water bear, symbolizing extraordinary durability.
Engineered for a top speed of 15 km/h—outpacing Apollo rovers—the Tardigrade promises exceptional handling and agility on lunar terrain.
Its core features a slender 10mm-thick aluminum frame sheathed in a Kevlar "tubular exoskeleton," leveraging proven lunar-grade materials to shield against radiation, frigid temperatures, and micrometeorite strikes.
Tipping the scales at just 140 kg—roughly two-thirds the weight of Apollo rovers—it occupies minimal space. As Hookie co-founder Nico Müller explained to Interesting Engineering: "A moon buggy would require nearly the same space as three or four Tardigrades."
For now a bold concept, the Tardigrade heads to the Petersen Automotive Museum in California this month for the ADV:Overland exhibition, signaling its potential to shape tomorrow's lunar adventures.
