Compact lunar rover from Korea advances towards 2027 Moon mission

At CES 2026, South Korea’s Lunar and Planetary Exploration Laboratory (UEL) showcased SCARABS, a compact two-wheel lunar rover designed for reliable surface exploration rather than experimental payloads. Scheduled for launch in 2027, SCARABS benefits from a confirmed lunar delivery agreement with ispace, a leading lunar landing company, ensuring a defined mission timeline. The rover’s design emphasizes simplicity and mobility, with key hardware such as its onboard computer already tested successfully in space aboard South Korea’s Nuri rocket. Further component tests, including motors and electronics, are planned via university CubeSat collaborations later this year. SCARABS marks the initial phase of UEL’s broader lunar ambitions, which include developing a larger rover for scientific missions and advancing long-term lunar infrastructure. The lab collaborates with national research institutes on mining, electronics, aerospace, and radiation studies, and creates artificial lunar and Martian soil simulants to optimize rover traction and propulsion. Looking ahead, UEL is pioneering 3