BLM-managed lands support NASA’s autonomous lunar rover testing in Imperial County, California

Across the rugged terrain of the Plaster City Open Area in western Imperial County, California, a different kind of off-road vehicle traveled across BLM-managed land.

The vehicle was an autonomous lunar rover designed and operated by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to test advanced navigation technology on public land. The work supports NASA’s efforts to develop more capable autonomous systems for future lunar missions. JPL is a federally-funded research and development center managed by Caltech for NASA and is internationally recognized for designing and operating robotic explorers, including Mars rovers Perseverance and Curiosity.  

The field test followed coordination between BLM staff in the BLM California El Centro Field Office and the JPL project team to ensure testing activities were conducted safely and responsibly on public lands.  

For this project, engineers needed a rugged environment similar to the terrain found on Mars and the Moon to evaluate the next generation of autonomous navigation systems. They found those conditions on BLM-managed public land in the Plaster City Open Area. With sparse vegetation, uneven terrain and natural obstacles, the area closely mirrors conditions robotic explorers may encounter during upcoming lunar surface missions.  

BLM El Centro Field Office staff, including Outdoor Recreation Planners Michael Mujica and Tanya Rubio and Realty Specialist Katherine Johnston, visited the test location to monitor activities and observe the rover’s performance firsthand. Using a detailed pre-programmed map overlay and navigation targets, the rover chose its own routes, avoided obstacles and natural resources to minimize impacts, and evaluated the surrounding terrain.

These demonstrations reflect the type of autonomy required for NASA’s upcoming Moon and Mars missions, where robotic assets must gather data, navigate hazardous terrain, and support scientific discovery with minimal human input.

The collaboration highlights how public lands can support advanced technology testing while maintaining responsible land-use practices.  

BLM-managed public lands support many different uses. In the Plaster City Open Area, that included serving as a testing site for an autonomous lunar rover, helping NASA advance systems that will be critical to upcoming lunar missions and future Mars exploration.