Innovation ready for takeoff at Paris Air Show with Moon-bound rover

Every two years, thousands of people converge on Paris Le Bourget Airport – without any hope of getting into the air. Visitors to the Paris Air Show aren't traveling to another place: they're eager to glimpse what the future holds for aviation… and aerospace. 

Among the notable innovations on display at the 55th Paris Air Show is a cutting-edge lunar rover — the Mona Luna — developed by Monaco-based Venturi Space.

As part of the European Space Agency's ambitious plan to land its first astronauts on the Moon by 2030, Venturi Space has unveiled a fully European-designed lunar rover that promises to redefine mobility on the Moon's challenging surface.

The Mona Luna rover is more than just functional — it's designed with both practicality and esthetics in mind. 

"My mission here is to listen to the engineers, understand them, and figure out how to make all those technical details beautiful," says Venturi's product designer Sacha Lakic.

The 750-kilogram rover is equipped with an electric propulsion system, solar panels and three high-performance batteries, and is built to reach a top speed of 20 kilometers per hour. 

Its ability to survive multiple lunar nights — when temperatures can plunge to -133 degrees Celsius — is a major engineering feat. During the lunar day, the rover must also withstand extreme highs of up to 121 degrees Celsius.

One of the most crucial aspects of the Mona Luna is its robust mobility system. With oversized wheels designed for traction and flotation on loose lunar soil, the rover is built to keep astronauts safe while navigating the Moon's unpredictable terrain. 

"Extended mobility is one of the main features of this robot," says Antonio Delfino, PhD physicist and Venturi Lab co-founder. "It means you don't remain stuck on the lunar soils."

As global interest in commercial space exploration accelerates, European companies like Venturi are pushing the boundaries of what's possible – not only on Earth, but for off-world missions as well.

"These are products that are born on Earth and one day will be on Mars, on the Moon," Lakic adds. "It's a dream coming true."

With visionary companies like Venturi leading the charge, Europe is signaling its readiness to be a serious contender in the new space race – both at home and in another world.