Astrobotic

A key component of the LunaGrid system (a power grid for the Moon) is our Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT), a 20 meter tall solar array atop a purpose-built rover the length of a car. This mobile energy capture allows LunaGrid to collect and deliver power where it's needed most.#lunagrid #vsat #PowerTheMoon

In development at Astrobotic: LunaGrid, a complete power generation and distribution service that survives the lunar night and delivers kilowatts of continuous power to lunar assets for multi-year operations. Launching as early as 2026 #lunagrid #lunarnight #PowerTheMoon

Partnerships make space possible! Thanks to Allegheny Observatory for supporting our Griffin Mission One Star Tracker testing. The star tracker helps the team verify where the vehicle is in space by scanning the stars. This testing ensures the system adequately measures stars under the expected vibration conditions during Griffin's powered descent to the Moon. #GM1 #startracker

The commercial space industry aims to push the boundaries of human potential and opening up new frontiers. From satellite launches to space tourism to autonomous lunar missions, this industry is revolutionizing how we explore, communicate, and understand our universe. At Astrobotic, we're proud of our team who work to inspire the next generation to keep reaching for the stars!

Exploring the Final Frontier Together: Why International Space Collaboration Matters In the vast expanse of space, collaboration knows no borders! International space agencies and private companies play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our space economy, and here's why: Innovation Accelerator: By pooling diverse expertise and resources from around the globe, international space collaboration drives innovation. From cutting-edge propulsion systems to groundbreaking research in astrobiology, collaboration sparks creativity like never before. Shared Goals, Shared Success: Space exploration isn't about planting flags—it's about pushing the boundaries of knowledge & discovery. International partnerships foster mutual goals, paving the way for monumental achievements like the International Space Station and beyond! Economic Boost: Let's talk space bucks! International collaboration doesn't just expand our cosmic horizons—it also fuels economic growth back home. From job creation to technological spin-offs, the space economy benefits us all. So, here's to the dreamers, the explorers, and the international pioneers propelling us towards the stars! Together, we'll continue to reach new heights and unlock the mysteries of the universe.

Thank you to Ms. Sarah's 5th grade class in Anchorage, Alaska(‼️), for inviting our CEO, John Thornton into your classroom last week! The students shared their questions about traveling to the Moon, Mars, and beyond! 🚀🌕

Another exciting announcement: Astrobotic has been selected by NASA for two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contracts that will assist with the development of reliable power infrastructure on the lunar surface, a key element in establishing long-term human and robotic operations on the Moon. The first Phase II contract is for the development of low mass, high power cables for long distance power distribution on the lunar surface. The second contract represents a collaboration between Astrobotic and Stottler-Henke for the development and testing of fault detection utilizing Astrobotic’s Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT) and Stottler-Henke’s MAIFLOWER algorithm.

I want to get these results to the lunar community quickly due to the urgency of defining the Artemis program and other lunar missions. These two papers were just published in Icarus today, with no paywall at these links for 50 days. They show that lunar lander exhaust blowing ejecta is 4x to 10x worse than we had previously estimated. I believe we need to reassess the blast radius for lunar landings based on these results. The 2 km estimate we published in 2011 (NASA’s guidelines to protect lunar heritage sites) was just a guess driven by urgency of the Google Lunar X-Prize. With the new results in these papers I believe we finally have the scientific & engineering tools to derive a meaningful blast radius. 1. “Erosion rate of lunar soil under a landing rocket, part 1: Identifying the rate limiting physics.” https://lnkd.in/e8DQquTQ 2. “…part 2: Benchmarking & predictions.” https://lnkd.in/ebjp9PAM

"Being able to land with pinpoint accuracy on a tennis-court sized area with almost no infrastructure is a game-changer. Xogdor will allow us to reach locations and perform activities that are not currently possible with drones, satellites, or sounding rockets." - John Thornton, Astrobotic CEO

Forget what you think you know about rockets: Xogdor is designed to operate multiple times per week, fly multiple mission profiles, including point-to-point trajectories and hover/station-keeping, and consistently lands within 2 cm of a target.