Key facts
- Nvidia's Jetson platform will be used to control the LiDAR system of Lunar Outpost's next moon rover.
- This deployment is expected to be the first GPU on the lunar surface.
- Nvidia is also partnering with Firefly Aerospace to use the Jetson platform on a satellite orbiting the moon.
- The rover is designed to carry sensors into challenging lunar terrains like craters.
- Operating GPUs in space is difficult due to radiation and extreme temperature fluctuations.
Nvidia is expanding its reach into space, with its Jetson platform set to power the first GPU on the lunar surface. Lunar Outpost, a startup focused on space infrastructure robotics, announced that its upcoming moon rover will utilize Nvidia's Jetson chips to control its LiDAR system.
This initiative aligns with NASA's campaign to encourage private companies to explore the Moon ahead of potential human astronaut returns, possibly by 2028. The space agency's program, similar to its collaboration with SpaceX, aims to develop vehicles capable of carrying scientific sensors to map the lunar terrain and identify resources like water.
Lunar Outpost CEO Justin Cyrus expressed enthusiasm for adopting these more capable GPU-powered systems in extreme environments, comparing Nvidia's Jetson to existing flight compute platforms. He noted the challenges of operating in space, particularly the moon's direct exposure to cosmic radiation and significant temperature swings, requiring systems to survive lunar nights on low power.
In addition to the rover deployment, Nvidia is collaborating with Firefly Aerospace to operate the Jetson platform on a satellite orbiting the Moon, processing imagery to map the lunar surface and track surface robots. Lunar Outpost's rover will be carried by a lander from Intuitive Machines, designed to explore challenging areas like craters.
The company envisions these advanced robotic systems, combining deterministic models with physical AI, as crucial for establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon. Lunar Outpost has several smaller rovers and a larger one, Pegasus, planned for future launches, though Pegasus's launch depends on Blue Origin's rocket readiness following a recent anomaly.