Bridgestone Corporation has developed a new concept for its lunar rover tire, which will be showcased at the 39th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs from April 8 to 11, 2024.
The tire is on display at Japan’s Space Industry booth, organized by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Bridgestone says its exhibit displays its commitment to space exploration and mobility evolution.
Through this project, the company aims to support the evolution of space mobility.
Inspired by the footpads of desert-traversing camels, Bridgestone’s first-generation lunar rover tire integrated a soft, metal-based felt material into the tread area to enhance traction on the moon’s regolith surface.
Building on this foundation, the second-generation tire introduces a robust skeletal structure, incorporating thin metal spokes and segmented tread design. These advancements, facilitated by structural simulations and digital technologies, are designed for durability and traction in the harsh lunar environment – characterized by rocks, sand, vacuum conditions and temperature fluctuations.
The lunar rover tire project is an initiative to expand the use of the company’s Air Free tire technology.
In the future, the company aims to apply the technology refined in the extreme lunar environment to tires used on Earth.
