In 1961, John F. Kennedy officiated the plan to land a man on the moon and return him safely to earth, before the end of the decade. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to touch down on the Moon.
Fast forward 53 years, Toyota has announced an ambitious plan to partner with the Japanese Space Agency JAXA to develop a vehicle that will be used to explore the surface of the moon. This vehicle is expected to aid in the transition from life on earth to life on the moon. This is a concept that seems a lifetime away, but JAXA and Toyota hope to make it possible by 2040. Today, our Toyota of Plano team views this news as a major victory for car buyers and aspiring space travelers alike. While the vehicle manufacturer expands its capabilities to build a durable enough vehicle, capable of withstanding extreme conditions on the surface of the moon, this will simultaneously lead to innovation and improvements for Toyota's already rugged vehicle lineup.
Eventually the goal is to make a transition from life on Earth and the Moon to a life on Mars. With this idea in mind, Toyota engineers have a lot of work ahead of them to construct the “Lunar Cruiser”, a nod to the Toyota Land Cruiser. Toyota has said that the mission of the Toyota “Lunar Cruiser” is to achieve sustainable prosperity and extend the reach of human activity. In order to achieve these substantial goals, Toyota is prepared to overcome a number of challenging obstacles in the development of these vehicles. To put these challenges in perspective, gravity on the moon is one-sixth of the gravitational pull we experience on earth. In addition to gravitational differences, the moon has increased radiation, extreme temperatures, and an especially complex terrain, which includes cliffs, hills, and even craters.
Our Toyota of Plano team recognizes that Toyota Engineering has a long way to go before the “Lunar Cruiser” is ready for exploration, but we can’t help but think of the innovation that will come out of manufacturing a vehicle that has to overcome such extreme obstacles. Most manufacturers have never encountered challenges like this before, and Toyota, as a result, will be steps ahead of the competition, within overall innovation and development.
Toyota in the past few years has secured its spot as one of America’s most recognized and awarded manufacturers, and plans for a “Lunar Cruiser” is setting a precedent for an even more promising future for the manufacturer. This is your chance to find out why more people trust Toyota. Visit Toyota of Plano today, and ask about our impressive lineup of 2022 Toyotas or our equally impressive selection of certified pre-owned vehicles.
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