Its’s been an action-packed week at IAC 2025 Sydney, where thousands of space leaders, engineers, researchers, and enthusiasts converged to shape the future of space exploration—and Roo-ver, Australia’s first lunar rover, was front and centre throughout.
A Big Launch for Roo-ver at IAC
From the moment Roo-ver rolled into the Australian Space Agency’s exhibition stand, it sparked conversations across industries and continents. Visitors were eager to learn how this homegrown lunar rover is being designed, built, tested, and operated here in Australia through the 21-organisation strong ELO₂ Consortium.
With daily showcases on the exhibition floor, Roo-ver served as the perfect launchpad for discussions on wheels, sensors, autonomy, and testing regimes. Our team also shared real-time updates, photos, and resources online for those following from afar, ensuring no one missed out on the excitement.
Roo-ver Takes the Stage
Earlier in the week, we presented our peer-reviewed paper at the IAF Space Exploration Symposium, titled “The Road to the Moon: Roo-ver, Australia’s First Lunar Rover.”
Ben Sorensen, our speaker, outlined the technical and strategic journey behind Roo-ver, including the benefits of early prototyping, cross-sector collaboration, and local supply-chain development. The session highlighted Roo-ver’s place within the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Initiative and how the ELO₂ Consortium is translating concept into capability.
The audience’s engagement was electric—many stayed back to dive deeper into the rover’s development and explore partnership opportunities.
❄️ Australian Engineering in Action
Behind the scenes, thermal control has been one of Roo-ver’s most critical challenges. That’s where ELO₂ partner University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Space Laboratory (MSL) comes in.
With deep expertise in in-orbit mission assurance, radiation-tolerant systems, and miniaturised payloads, MSL supports Roo-ver with advanced thermal modelling, passive insulation, and radiation-resistant heaters. Their work ensures Roo-ver’s internal components stay operational in the extreme thermal swings of the lunar surface.
It’s a powerful example of Australian research capability being applied directly to a national mission, with thermal insights informing everything from power distribution to autonomous operation.
Connecting with the Public
The week culminates with IAC 2025 Public Day, where the wider community can see space in action—for free. Roo-ver is on display out front of the ICC Sydney on Cockle Bay Lawn, alongside mini-models and hands-on demos.
It’s an open invitation to future space leaders, students, and the space-curious to engage with our mission, ask questions, and interact with the rover team directly.
We’ll be talking everything from wheel design to lunar dust mitigation, helping inspire the next generation of Australian space engineers and innovators.