Lunar Outpost (company)
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | Justin Cyrus  |
| Headquarters | , |
Number of employees | 200 (2024) |
| Website | www |
Lunar Outpost is a private space company headquartered in Golden, Colorado, USA. It is an industry leader in the areas of space robotics, lunar surface mobility and space resources. The company has developed the Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP) rover, and also holds a contract to develop a Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) for the Artemis Program.[1]
History
[edit]The company was formed in 2017 and as of 2024 has multiple projects in progress including being one of three finalists to develop the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) for the Artemis Program.[2] Initially a partnership with Lockheed Martin, the company indicated in September 2024 that Leidos was replacing Lockheed-Martin on their Lunar Dawn LTV effort.[3] The company will also provide the Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP) rover on the IM-2 mission in order to demonstrate ISRU on the lunar surface, the mission is scheduled for early 2025.[4][5] On the IM-3 mission, the company will again provide a rover.[6]
Locations
[edit]The company operates offices across three continents, including North America, Europe, and Oceania.
The headquarters is located in Golden, Colorado, and serves as a hub for innovation and engineering. The facility includes a regolith simulant pit, which is used for testing platforms under conditions that simulate the lunar surface. Additionally, the Golden location houses state-of-the-art facilities for the design, manufacturing, and testing of lunar rovers, supporting the company’s mission to lead in autonomous mobility solutions for extraterrestrial environments.
Missions
[edit]Lunar Voyage One
[edit]Launching early 2025, Lunar Voyage 1 represents a significant milestone in space exploration, as it enables Nokia to establish the first cellular network on another planetary body. This mission is poised to achieve several historic firsts: being the first American rover to explore the lunar South Pole, the first commercial rover to operate on another planetary body, and completing the first sale of space resources in human history.[7][8]
Lunar Voyage Two
[edit]Launching 2025, Lunar Voyage 2 is focused on exploring Reiner Gamma, a lunar region known for its mysterious magnetic anomaly that has perplexed scientists for centuries. Conducted in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU APL) and NASA, this mission aims to investigate this unique feature of the lunar surface. The data collected from Lunar Voyage 2 is expected to shed light on the Moon's magnetic properties and contribute to a deeper understanding of the solar system's history. [8]
Lunar Voyage Three
[edit]Launching 2026, Lunar Voyage 3 provides mobility solutions for scientific and commercial payloads, further expanding humanity’s knowledge of the Moon. The mission is being executed in partnership with Intuitive Machines, serving as the lander provider, and SpaceX, serving as the launch provider. By supporting payload mobility, this mission will enable a range of scientific discoveries and commercial advancements on the lunar surface. [8]
Trailblazer Competition
[edit]The Lunar Outpost Oceania Consortium is one of two teams selected to receive Stage 1 grant funding from the Australian Government’s Moon to Mars Trailblazer Initiative. This initiative, managed by the Australian Space Agency, aims to advance Australian contributions to space exploration through the development of remotely operated and autonomous robotic lunar technologies.
In Stage 1 of the initiative, the Consortium will design and develop a lunar rover tailored for the Moon’s unique environmental conditions. Leveraging Lunar Outpost’s expertise in autonomous lunar mobility and excavation, the rover will be capable of collecting lunar regolith for delivery to NASA’s in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) facility.
The ultimate goal of the project is for the Consortium to progress to Stage 2, culminating in NASA deploying an Australian-developed lunar rover to the Moon. The Trailblazer Initiative underscores Australia’s growing role in the global space exploration landscape, fostering innovation and international collaboration. [9]
Lunar Terrain Vehicle
[edit]The Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) is an unpressurized lunar rover under development by NASA to support the Artemis program's goal of returning humans to the Moon and establishing a sustainable presence. The LTV is designed to transport astronauts and cargo across the lunar surface, facilitating scientific research and exploration.
In April 2024, NASA selected three companies, including Lunar Outpost, to advance the development of the LTV, tasked with creating rover concepts capable of operating in the Moon's extreme environment, including its rugged terrain and temperature fluctuations. The LTV is expected to support missions starting with Artemis V, anticipated to launch no earlier than March 2030.
Lunar Outpost, leading the "Lunar Dawn" team, is collaborating with partners such as General Motors, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Leidos, and MDA Space to develop a human-rated lunar rover. Their LTV aims to provide robust off-road capabilities, ensuring astronaut safety and mission success in the harsh lunar environment.
The development of the LTV is a critical component of NASA's Artemis program, which seeks to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and prepare for future missions to Mars. By leveraging commercial partnerships, NASA aims to enhance lunar mobility and expand the scope of human exploration beyond Earth. [10][11][12]
References
[edit]- ^ "NASA Selects Companies to Advance Moon Mobility for Artemis Missions - NASA". Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ "NASA unveils three teams to compete for crewed lunar rover demonstration mission – Spaceflight Now". 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (2024-09-25). "Leidos replaces Lockheed Martin on Artemis rover team". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
- ^ Cowing, Keith (2023-08-07). "Lunar Outpost Delivers First Flight Model Rover in Record Time". SpaceRef. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ Johnson, Arianna. "MIT Will Return To The Moon For The First Time Since Apollo, Thanks To This Space Startup". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ "NASA Payloads for (CLPS PRISM) CP-11 – Intuitive Machines Nova-C Lander - NASA Science". science.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ Gorman, Douglas (2024-08-20). "Lunar Outpost's Well-Oiled Mission to the Moon". Payload. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ a b c "Missions". Lunar Outpost. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ SpaceRef (2023-03-20). "EPE & Lunar Outpost Oceania Consortium Selected to Participate in the Australian Space Agency's Moon to Mars Trailblazer Initiative". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ "NASA Selects Companies to Advance Moon Mobility for Artemis Missions - NASA". Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ "LTV". Lunar Outpost. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ kealykenrick (2024-04-03). "Lunar Dawn Team Awarded NASA Lunar Terrain Vehicle Contract". Lunar Outpost. Retrieved 2024-11-15.