The semi-autonomous rover will travel aboard the CT-4 spacecraft towards the end of the decade, marking the furthest journey ever undertaken by an Australian-built space object.
The mission has been described as a milestone for both the nation’s scientific ambitions and its growing space industry. Roo-ver will conduct vital investigations on the lunar surface while carrying a NASA-provided payload designed to analyse materials and test new exploration technologies.
Backed by a $42 million investment from the Australian government, the project is being framed not only as a space science breakthrough but also as a driver of innovation across Australian industry. Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Tim Ayres said the program would build advanced skills, deepen local manufacturing expertise and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Minister Ayres said, “This is one of the most specialised robotics and advanced manufacturing projects in the country ... Roo-ver is a prime example of how space can be a driver of the Albanese Labor government’s Future Made in Australia agenda to grow national industrial capability, boost productivity and build economic resilience.”
The rover is being developed by the ELO2 consortium, which brings together around 20 Australian partners, including start-ups, SMEs, resource companies, universities and researchers. Consortium director Ben Sorensen said the project would strengthen Australia’s high-tech workforce and spark innovation across industries ranging from agriculture to defence.
“This is an opportunity for Australia to embark on a national mission with international partners,” he said.
Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo described Roo-ver as a key step in the nation’s growing partnership with NASA. He said the mission aligned with the global effort to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon and Mars, while also reinforcing decades of Australia–US cooperation in space exploration.
"Establishing a sustainable human presence on the moon and Mars is a key focus of the international space community over the coming decades, and the work we’re doing with Roo-ver centres Australia in that foundational work," Palermo said.
With its development now secured, Roo-ver is poised to become a landmark of Australian space capability, a mission that blends science, technology and national ambition as the country takes its first steps towards the lunar surface.