Apollo 15 legend David Scott, the first astronaut to drive a rover on the Moon, brought his incredible experience to Monaco on Monday during a special visit to Venturi Space. Hosted by President Gildo Pastor and joined by Prince Albert II and astronaut Jean-François Clervoy, the visit celebrated Monaco’s cutting-edge space advancements and its bold involvement in upcoming lunar missions set for 2025 and 2026.
“This is an extraordinary effort, supported by exceptional collaborators,” said Prince Albert II. “Knowing that Monaco will not only have a ‘foot’ but also a ‘wheel’ in space is a source of immense pride. It’s exciting to see how far this will take us.”
Exploring lunar innovation
The visit included five key stages, starting with presentations of Venturi’s pioneering FLIP and FLEX rovers. Developed across Venturi Space’s European bases in Monaco, Switzerland and France, the FLEX rover is set to launch with SpaceX in 2026 and is among three mobility systems shortlisted by NASA for the Artemis V mission in 2030. Meanwhile, the FLIP rover, optimised for surface versatility, is scheduled for deployment in 2025.
“We are thrilled and immensely proud of what is being done here,” said the Prince. “This is going to be an incredible adventure because space remains one of the greatest frontiers for exploration. While there are still great adventures to be had here on Earth, this new phase of lunar activities and programs on the Moon is absolutely thrilling.”
Input from an astronaut
The star of the event was Apollo 15 Commander David Scott, one of only 12 astronauts to have walked on the Moon and the first to drive a lunar rover. The 92-year-old enthusiastically toured Venturi headquarters, speaking about his historic Hadley Plain mission in 1971 and sharing stories from his time on the Moon, while offering advice for the next generation of explorers.
“Venturi have taken on an enormous challenge,” he said. “The FLEX rover is very different from the one I drove. It’s much bigger and will have an enormous operating life. It seems to me that the teams are doing a good job, and I wish them good luck. We will be following closely.”
Gildo Pastor praised Scott’s expertise, saying, “It is a great honour to have David Scott with us. He gave us clear explanations and shared insights we weren’t aware of, making this visit truly worthwhile.”
Apollo exhibitions highlight David Scott’s mission
As part of the event, guests explored two NASA photo exhibitions hosted by Venturi that are currently on show in the lobby of the Gildo Pastor Centre. Apollo 15 in Hadley Plain highlights the first use of a lunar rover by Scott and James Irwin, exploring one of the most scientifically significant Apollo landing sites.
To see himself in these photos, said Scott, was a wonderful opportunity to relive the moment.
“These are great memories, it takes me back to a time when we had an opportunity to do something challenging, something unusual. It was the best kind of holiday you could take,” he shared.
The other exhibition, Apollo 16 and Apollo 17 on the Moon, showcases breathtaking images of lunar highlands and the Taurus-Littrow plain, captured by astronauts during their groundbreaking missions.
Shaping Monaco’s space future
The tour of Venturi’s space technology comes just over a month after Monaco hosted representatives from the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs to discuss the development of space legislation and Monaco’s role in shaping responsible practices for the growing space industry.
“Developing space legislation is critical, though it is still in the relatively early stages for us,” said Prince Albert. “We need to lay the groundwork to determine how we can develop this sector and where it may take us. It’s a complex process, but we are actively working on it.”
From Monaco to the Moon
Prince Albert spoke about the broader implications of Monaco’s involvement in space, saying, “We’ve always looked at space programs with admiration, and I never thought, just a few years ago, that we would contribute to them directly or indirectly. Yet here we are, thanks to other actors working on satellites and other activities in this domain. This initiative is a shining example of what can be achieved, even in a small country, when people come together with determination to make things happen.”
Also present for the event was Astronaut Jean-François Clervoy, who has been appointed the European Ambassador for Venturi’s space initiatives. Clervoy is a French astronaut and engineer who flew on three NASA Space Shuttle missions, including a Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission. He is a veteran of the European Space Agency and a leader in advancing aerospace innovation.
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Main photo: Prince Albert II with Apollo 15 Astronaut David Scott (left ), Venturi Space President Gildo Pastor, and Venturi Space Ambassador Jean-François Clervoy. Photo source: Venturi