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by the end of the next decade, NASA will be back on the Moon and heading to Mars. This time missions will last six months or longer, exploring thousands of square miles.

This is NASA's Electric Rover prototype. Unlike its predecessor, it is small pressurized vehicle, about the size of a pickup truck and can house two astronauts for up to 14 days with sleeping and sanitary facilities. It is designed to require little or no maintenance, be able to travel thousands of miles climbing over rocks and up 40 degree slopes during its ten-year operating life span.

The Ares/Constellation program is well under way with the first unmanned test flights scheduled to start this year.

Image Credit: NASA.