Nabtesco Selected for JAXA’s “Moon to Mars Innovation” Program Joint Research on Electric Actuators for Use in Space Environments

Nabtesco Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Kazumasa Kimura) has been selected as the lead organization for a research project under the 13th call for research proposals under its “Moon to Mars Innovation^*1” joint research program conducted by the Space Exploration Innovation Hub Center^*2 of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The proposal, titled“Development of an Electric Actuator Capable of Operating in Space Environments and Withstanding Digging Loads,” was jointly submitted with Komatsu Ltd. (“Komatsu”) and has been accepted with Nabtesco serving as the primary implementing organization.
In anticipation of future human activities on the lunar surface, construction machinery capable of supporting tasks such as water resource extraction and infrastructure development is expected to play a critical role. This research aims to establish technologies for compact and lightweight actuator of high-load applications for lunar construction machinery that can operate in vacuum environments and withstanding the high digging loads.
Nabtesco is currently advancing the development of electric drive systems for construction machinery utilizing high-load electric actuators, in response to societal challenges such as reducing CO₂ emissions and addressing labor shortages. Compared with conventional hydraulic systems, this system achieves approximately five times higher energy efficiency and is expected to expand operational capabilities through highly precise motion control.
In this research, Nabtesco will apply these technologies to develop electric actuators capable of operating in the harsh conditions of space environments.