Will This Beast be the New Mars Rover?

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has been collaborating with some external partners to produce what can only be described as a Mars “Batmobile” explorer. This six-wheeled all-electric vehicle is designed to operate in the harsh Mars environment. The specialty wheels are 50-inch-tall and 30 inches wide to allow the fine sand of Mars pass through while the vehicle retains grip. It is all electric, running on a 700 volt battery and charges-up via solar panels. 

The vehicle is modular and can separate in the middle, to perform both scout and research missions. It stands 11 feet tall and is 28 feet in length, but weighs a mere five-thousand pounds (about as much as a normal pickup truck), thanks to the aluminum and carbon-fiber body. 

Picture Sources: https://www.instagram.com/shanonparkerpbc/ and https://www.instagram.com/marcparker/