lunar excursion vehicle 2 (level 2)

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Discover the Best Norwegian Epic Excursions for Adventure Seekers

Are you an adventure seeker looking to embark on a thrilling journey during your Norwegian Epic cruise? Look no further. Norwegian Epic offers a wide range of exciting excursions that will take your vacation to the next level. From adrenaline-pumping activities to awe-inspiring natural wonders, there is something for everyone. In this article, we will explore the best Norwegian Epic excursions for adventure seekers.

Helicopter Glacier Hike

If you’re seeking a once-in-a-lifetime experience, look no further than the Helicopter Glacier Hike excursion. This thrilling adventure begins with a scenic helicopter ride over breathtaking landscapes, providing you with stunning aerial views of towering glaciers and rugged mountains. Once you land on the glacier, you’ll be equipped with all the necessary gear and led by experienced guides who will take you on an exhilarating hike through ice tunnels and crevasses. The beauty and serenity of these icy landscapes will leave you in awe as you explore one of nature’s most impressive creations.

White Water Rafting in Flam

For those who crave an adrenaline rush, white water rafting in Flam is an excursion not to be missed. Prepare yourself for an action-packed day as you navigate through turbulent rapids surrounded by Norway’s picturesque fjords and majestic mountains. Whether you’re a seasoned rafter or a beginner, this excursion offers options for all skill levels, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the thrill of conquering the rapids while taking in the breathtaking scenery that surrounds you.

ATV Safari in Geiranger

Get ready to rev your engines and embark on an ATV safari in Geiranger. This high-octane adventure allows you to explore Norway’s rugged terrain while riding through forests, crossing streams, and climbing steep hills aboard powerful ATVs. Led by knowledgeable guides who are well-versed in the local flora and fauna, you’ll have the opportunity to witness stunning panoramic views of Geirangerfjord and its surrounding mountains. This excursion is perfect for thrill-seekers who want to combine excitement with natural beauty.

Dog Sledding in Tromso

Experience the magic of dog sledding in Tromso, the gateway to the Arctic. This excursion offers an unforgettable opportunity to mush your own team of eager huskies through snow-covered landscapes, surrounded by breathtaking winter scenery. As you glide through frozen forests and over sparkling lakes, you’ll feel a sense of connection with nature that is truly unparalleled. Don’t forget to pause along the way to take in the silence and marvel at the northern lights if you’re lucky enough to witness this natural phenomenon.

In conclusion, Norwegian Epic excursions offer adventure seekers a chance to experience thrilling activities amidst some of Norway’s most stunning landscapes. Whether you choose to hike on glaciers, tackle rapids while white water rafting, ride ATVs through rugged terrains, or mush your own team of huskies whilst dog sledding, these excursions are sure to leave you with memories that will last a lifetime. So pack your sense of adventure and get ready for an epic journey on board Norwegian Epic.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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Industry-Academia-Government Joint Development Project

Palm-Sized Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2 (LEV-2）

JAXA has been developing Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2 (LEV-2) to be mounted on the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) jointly with TOMY COMPANY, LTD., Sony Group Corporation and Doshisha University. LEV-2, which is a ball-shaped vehicle with a diameter of approximately 8 cm and a mass of approximately 250 g, is equipped with two cameras and can change its shape to run on the lunar surface.

HIRANO Daichi engaged in the development of the vehicle at JAXA. He says, "To satisfy the limited size of the vehicle to be mound on SLIM, we had to downsize LEV-2. However, downsizing causes a decrease in running performance. In order to deal with this problem, we designed the vehicle to be a spherical object with expandable wheels and a stabilizer using the transforming technologies for toys. Moreover, we adopted the robust and safe design technology for children's toys, which reduced the number of components used in the vehicle as much as possible and increased its reliability." HIRANO continues, "This robot was developed successfully within the limited size and mass using the downsizing and weight reduction technologies and the shape changing mechanism developed for toys by TOMY and Doshisha University as well as the small and energy-efficient control board and camera developed by Sony Group." As implied by HIRANO's words, this joint development proved the value and possibility of industry-academia-government cooperation.

LEV-2 is now in the final process before the launch to the moon. It was designed by a toy manufacturer and thus gives dreams to children.

"I hope children will get interested in science generally, not limited to space science, by seeing the baseball-sized vehicle running while swinging left and right on the Moon."

All the images are copyrighted ©JAXA unless otherwise noticed.

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Playing Astronaut

Japan aerospace exploration agency lunar excursion vehicle 2.

W hen Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency launched a moon mission in September, it carried an unusual payload: a small, ball-shaped object called the Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2, designed by Japanese toy maker Tomy in partnership with Sony and Doshihsa University. The LEV-2, which has a diameter of just 8 centimeters across and weighs less than 250 grams, will reach the moon early next year. Once it’s on the lunar surface, the two halves of the LEV-2 will separate, turning into wheels and letting the vehicle traverse the moonscape. The device, which features a tail stabilizer to deal with uneven surfaces, will beam footage from two onboard cameras back to Earth.

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Japan's SLIM moon lander is carrying this transforming ball robot (it's not BB-8)

The little rolly-polly probe will hobble and wheel itself around to take pictures of the SLIM lander on the moon.

Japan's recent launch of the SLIM moon lander included a tiny lunar explorer inspired by a children's toy. 

The Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2 (LEV-2) is a little metal sphere, not much larger than a tennis ball. Once on the moon , it will pop off the SLIM lander , and transform its two halves to traverse the fine regolith of the lunar surface. 

SLIM, the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon probe from the Japanese space agency JAXA , is designed to demonstrate the country's first soft lunar landing. It launched aboard an H-2A rocket on Wednesday (Sept. 6) with a sister payload, the XRISM X-ray satellite . 

Related: Japan launches SLIM moon lander, XRISM X-ray telescope on space doubleheader (video)

SLIM, a relatively small spacecraft, measuring less than 9 feet (2.4 meters) across, will spend the next few months reaching lunar orbit. It will spend another month surveying its landing site inside the moon's Shioli Crater. 

Assuming SLIM's descent goes as planned, LEV-2 will release from the lander at approximately 5 feet, 11 inches (1.8 meters) above the lunar surface, and begin rolling around to image SLIM's landing and the surrounding area. LEV-2's battery power is expected to last about two hours. 

When the two halves of LEV-2 separate, they are able to function as legs and wheels to allow the tiny probe to move around. Nestled between the halves are two cameras and a stabilizer used to help LEV-2 navigate its surroundings. As it does, it will transmit its data back to Earth through LEV-1, a separate probe also aboard SLIM, which will operate in tandem with SLIM and LEV-2.

The video below demonstrates how LEV-2 will propel itself across the lunar surface (but note that the video is in Japanese only).

HIRANO Daichi developed LEV-2 at JAXA, and worked with toy manufacturer Tomy and researchers at Doshisha University to design the probe with the same shape-changing mechanics used in children's toys, and with Sony Group to develop the cameras.

"We adopted the robust and safe design technology for children's toys, which reduced the number of components used in the vehicle as much as possible and increased its reliability," Daichi explained in a JAXA press release . Those technologies also helped reduce the size of LEV-2 to satisfy the size constraints of flying aboard the SLIM lander. 

 —   Japan's SLIM spacecraft, a 'moon sniper,' to join lunar landing rush

 —   India on the moon! Chandrayaan-3 becomes 1st probe to land near lunar south pole

 —  New XRISM X-ray mission to study the most violent events in the universe will launch on Aug. 26

"This robot was developed successfully within the limited size and mass using the downsizing and weight reduction technologies and the shape changing mechanism developed for toys by TOMY and Doshisha University as well as the small and energy-efficient control board and camera developed by Sony Group," Daichi said, adding, that he hopes children will be inspired by the diminutive roboball and become interested in science.

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Josh Dinner is Space.com's Content Manager. He is a writer and photographer with a passion for science and space exploration, and has been working the space beat since 2016. Josh has covered the evolution of NASA's commercial spaceflight partnerships, from early Dragon and Cygnus cargo missions to the ongoing development and launches of crewed missions from the Space Coast, as well as NASA science missions and more. He also enjoys building 1:144 scale models of rockets and human-flown spacecraft. Find some of Josh's launch photography on Instagram and his website , and follow him on Twitter , where he mostly posts in haiku.

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Out Of This World – The SLIM Moon Lander and Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2

The realm of space exploration is constantly evolving and improving, allowing us to venture further into the depths of the cosmos. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) recently made a notable contribution to space technology in the form of their Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) project. The SLIM lander is a groundbreaking project that promises to unlock new frontiers on Earth’s celestial neighbor.

SLIM is Japan’s first lunar surface mission, and the craft will demonstrate pinpoint landing capabilities. Dubbed the ‘moon sniper’, the craft is expected to land within 100 meters of its targeted site , a lunar basin called Mare Nectaris, which creates one of the dark spots on the Moons’ visible face . The craft will identify its landing location using technology similar to facial recognition systems with data collected by the SELENE lunar orbiter mission. In addition to increased landing accuracy, the SLIM mission objectives include accelerating the study of the Moon and other planets using lighter exploration systems.

The SLIM Moon lander includes a tiny robot, designed for exploring lunar terrain, whose design was inspired by a children’s toy. The palm-sized Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2 (LEV-2) looks and acts a bit like a pill bug insect. It can shift from a rolling sphere to crawling mode, in which the ball expands and can then “crawl” by wiggling side to side. The design of the robot was a collaboration with TOMY toys and Doshisha University . The tiny lunar explorer is equipped with two cameras developed by Sony Group , which it will use to help navigate its surroundings and record data to transmit back to earth. To see a video of how this amazing, miniscule robot moves, click here .

The SLIM and LEV-2 represent a significant leap forward in lunar exploration and will serve as crucial precursors to future Moon missions. Their successful deployment and operation will pave the way for more ambitious endeavors in the future. As the SLIM embarks on its mission, the global scientific community eagerly awaits the wealth of information it will provide, furthering humanity’s quest to unlock the mysteries of the moon one space mission at a time.

Katie Nelson Geospatial Ninja (303) 718-7163 [email protected]

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Inspired by toys: The Japanese Space Agency will land the strangest lunar rover on the Moon

The Japanese Space Agency, JAXA, against the background of the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the surface of the Moon, plans to conquer our natural moon in early 2024. An important component of this mission is an unusual robot that resembles a tennis ball in shape, although some see it as BB-8 from the popular Star Wars movies.

Last week, the launch of the JAXA probe called Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) took place. This probe carries on its tow a strange robot called Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2 (LEV-2).

LEV-2 will be launched to the surface of the Moon from a height of 2 meters and will go on its mission. This lunar rover has an impressive feature. Its two halves can move independently of each other, allowing it to advance through the regolith. This is a fantastic idea borrowed from the concepts of children’s toys, and it is already being implemented in space. However, it is worth noting that this mission is not a scientific experiment, but rather a technical demonstration. LEV-2 batteries provide only two hours of work on the Moon. However, the differences in its design and shape may have important implications for future rovers.

From toys to space

“We adopted the robust and safe design technology for children’s toys, which reduced the number of components used in the vehicle as much as possible and increased its reliability,” explained Hirano Daichi, senior researcher and developer of the robot at JAXA.

The development of this robot was jointly carried out by the Japanese Space Agency, toy manufacturer TOMY and Doshisha University. In addition, the technology giant Sony has made a significant contribution by developing a control board and a stabilized camera located between two hemispherical legs of the robot. 

Complex maneuvers

Before LEV-2 begins its mission on the Moon, JAXA should successfully launch the SLIM probe into lunar orbit and carry out its descent. This task is complicated and requires a lot of dexterity. Not all countries have been able to cope with such a task in recent years. For example, the Russian Luna-25 crashed , the Israeli Bereshit failed to cope with the task, and India gained experience from the unsuccessful Chandrayaan-2 mission. But Japanese scientists remain optimistic.

Thus, this unusual mission may have a far-reaching impact on future exploration of the Moon and space in general.

Earlier we reported on how the Indian Lunar Rover completed its journey .

According to JAXA

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The newest moon-bound robot will roll around like a tennis ball

Japan's LEV-2 lunar probe is inspired by children's toys, and could make history by the end of the year.

By Andrew Paul | Published Sep 11, 2023 1:00 PM EDT

If all goes according to plan, a tennis ball-sized robot modeled after a children’s toy will soon briefly explore the moon’s surface as part of Japan’s first soft lunar landing . As recently highlighted by Space.com , the Japanese space agency, JAXA , is currently overseeing its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) probe mission, which launched on September 6 alongside the country’s XRISM X-ray satellite payload. Unlike more powerful launches, it will take less than 9-foot-wide SLIM between three and four months to reach lunar orbit, after which it will survey the roughly 1000-foot-wide Shioli Crater landing site from afar for about another month.

Afterwards, however, the lander will descend towards the moon, and deploy the Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2 (LEV-2) once it reaches around six-feet above the surface. The probe’s sphere-shaped casing will then divide into two halves on either side of a small camera system. From there, LEV-2 will begin hobbling atop the SLIM landing site and surrounding area for around two hours, until its battery reserve is depleted.

[Related: India’s successful moon landing makes lunar history .]

Per JAXA’s description , LEV-2 was developed by its Space Exploration Innovation Hub Center associate senior researcher Hirano Daichi. Daichi collaborated with a team from Doshisha University as well as the toy manufacturer TOMY to create the tiny space explorer. Meanwhile, Sony provided the two cameras that will survey the moon. According to Daichi, the team turned to children’s toys for their “robust and safe design… which reduced the number of components used in the vehicle as much as possible and increased its reliability.”

“This robot was developed successfully within the limited size and mass using the downsizing and weight reduction technologies and the shape changing mechanism developed for toys by TOMY,” continued Daichi.

If successful, JAXA engineers hope the soft lunar landing method can be adapted to larger craft in the future, including those piloted by human astronauts. “By creating the SLIM lander humans will make a qualitative shift towards being able to land where we want and not just where it is easy to land, as had been the case before,” reads JAXA’s project description . “By achieving this, it will become possible to land on planets even more resource scarce than the moon.”

Beyond just this project, it’s been an active time for lunar exploration. In August, India completed the first successful lunar landing at the moon’s south pole via its Chandrayaan-3 probe . Last year, NASA’s Artemis-1 rocket also kickstarted the space agency’s long standing goal towards establishing a permanent moon base.

Andrew Paul is Popular Science's staff writer covering tech news. Previously, he was a regular contributor to The A.V. Club and Input, and has had recent work also featured by Rolling Stone, Fangoria, GQ, Slate, NBC, as well as McSweeney's Internet Tendency. He lives outside Indianapolis.

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Lunar terrain vehicle.

As astronauts explore the South Pole region of the Moon during Artemis missions, they will be able to go farther and conduct more science than ever before thanks to a new Lunar Terrain Vehicle.

The Lunar Terrain Vehicle will take us further than ever before. Human mobility on the lunar surface is crucial for enhancing scientific discovery on each mission and preparing for planetary mobility on Mars. Instead of owning the vehicle, NASA plans to contract it as a service from industry. The LTV will be the ultimate lunar surface terrain vehicle with advanced power management, autonomous driving, state of the art communications and navigation systems, along with other extreme environment technologies that will provide the ability to collect and conduct science while keeping astronauts and the vehicle safe and ready for its next mission. 

Quick Facts

The LTV will function like a cross between an Apollo-style lunar rover and a Mars-style uncrewed rover.

As the Lunar Roving Vehicle did for the Apollo Program, the LTV will greatly expand human reach and scientific research on the Moon for future surface missions. 

The LTV also can be operated remotely to transport cargo and science payloads to new landing sites between crew missions, enabling significant science returns by combining the best of human and robotic exploration. 

NASA Pursues LTV Services for Artemis Missions

NASA is seeking industry proposals for a next-generation LTV (Lunar Terrain Vehicle) that will allow astronauts to go farther and conduct more science than ever before as they explore the south polar region of the Moon during Artemis missions.

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The Lunar Roving Vehicle

The Lunar Roving Vehicle was an electric vehicle designed to operate in the low-gravity vacuum of the Moon and to be capable of traversing the lunar surface, allowing the Apollo astronauts to extend the range of their surface extravehicular activities. This archival video chronicles the early history of that program as well as its deployment as part of the Apollo 15 mission.

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