SpaceX has announced an ambitious and unconventional plan to take remote-controlled car racing beyond Earth—straight to the surface of the Moon. 

Elon Musk’s aerospace company aims to send specially designed vehicles to the lunar surface, where they will be remotely operated from Earth in a first-of-its-kind extraterrestrial racing concept. 

According to the plan, the mission is scheduled for launch in October 2021 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. If successful, the project would not only showcase SpaceX’s advanced launch capabilities but also demonstrate new possibilities for robotics, long-distance remote control, and public engagement with space exploration.

To bring this extraordinary idea to life, the project has enlisted renowned automotive designer Frank Stephenson, celebrated for his iconic work with brands such as BMW, Ferrari, Maserati, McLaren, and several others, to help shape the design of the lunar vehicles.

“Car Race” Remote-Controlled On The Surface of The Moon

Adding a strong educational and inspirational element, the initiative will involve two teams of high school students, who will play a direct role in partially designing, building, and ultimately racing the cars. 

According to a statement released in November, this hands-on collaboration is intended to inspire young innovators while blending professional expertise with student creativity in a groundbreaking space-based competition

“This is a project that helps nurture the innovators of the future, giving them the opportunity to dream boldly and understand that nothing is truly impossible,” Stephenson said in a statement. He emphasized the unique potential of the initiative, noting that space remains a fascinating and largely unexplored frontier for aspiring designers. 

Stephenson added that he is excited to share his experience and expertise with the students and teams involved, and he looks forward to contributing to a project that blends creativity, education, and innovation in such a groundbreaking way.

Partnerships and Leadership Behind the Lunar Car Race

The vehicles will be transported to the Moon aboard a Nova-C lunar lander developed by Intuitive Machines. 

The ambitious race is being organized by Moon Mark, a multimedia and educational content company, in partnership with aerospace firm Intuitive Machines. 

Adding further technical expertise, space technology company Lunar Outpost officially joined the partnership on November 17, according to the statement.

In November, Frank Stephenson accepted the role of race design director for Moon Mark Mission 2021, taking responsibility for guiding the overall look and design philosophy of the lunar cars. 

Participation in the race was not automatic for the student teams; the high school students selected to compete had to earn their place by meeting specific challenges and demonstrating their skills, creativity, and commitment to the project.

On July 14, Moon Mark revealed that two teams of high school students had successfully produced valid lunar car designs in an impressive span of just four weeks. 

The selected teams are “Team Atlas” from Buenos Aires and “Team Ilstar” from Shanghai, highlighting the global reach of the competition.

According to a statement, the students earned their positions by competing in a series of demanding challenges that tested both technical and creative skills. 

These remote-controlled challenges included drone and autonomous vehicle racing, e-gaming competitions, and a space-commercialization entrepreneurship contest.

“The two top teams from the qualifying rounds will win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build and race two vehicles on the Moon,” the companies said. Moving into the next phase, the winning students will collaborate closely with renowned automotive designer Frank Stephenson to refine and develop their concepts into fully realized vehicles, which they will ultimately race across the Moon’s surface.