Here’s when a new Australian-built rover will head to the moon

Australia has officially signed a deal with NASA to send an Australian-built rover to the moon, examining the prospect of humans living in space

The agreement is worth $50 million and is funded by the federal government’s “Moon to Mars” initiative with liftoff expected in 2026.

This all follows Australia signing up to Nasa’s Artemis Accords last year… an agreement that outlines space exploration principles and ultimately allows the nation to work alongside the space agency.

NASA’s Artemis exploration plan aims to land the first woman and person of colour on the moon, whilst also establishing “the first long-term presence on the moon”.

In a statement, Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison says: “This is an incredible opportunity for Australia to succeed in the global space sector, and is central to the government’s vision to secure more jobs and a larger share of the growing space economy”.

It’s expected that the rover will semi-automatically collect lunar soil in a bid to examine oxygen levels in space.