Masten Space Systems (Astrobotic)

XL-1, is a small, single-use lander capable of placing a 100-kg payload on the lunar surface.

Created: 2019-01-22

Updated: 2024-07-16

Founded
Country
2004
USA
Website
https://www.masten.aero/
Social
Masten Space Systems (Astrobotic)

Product/Service - Moon Lander XL-1, Xogdor

Classification
Cargo Transportation & Landers
Category
Transport Service (LEO-Moon)
Commercial Lunar Lander
Landing Pads
Status
Acquired, Development
First launch
Not applicable

The Masten in-Flight Alumina Spray Technique (FAST) Landing Pad changes the approach to landing on planetary bodies by mitigating the landing plume effects by creating a landing pad under the lander as it descends onto a surface.

Masten Space Systems won two contracts, with a total value of $12.8 million, to demonstrate precision landing technologies with its Xogdor vehicle and a system to provide heat and power for payloads to allow them to survive the lunar night.

Cash-strapped Masten Space Systems has furloughed all of its staff, putting at risk both the company and a $75.9 million NASA-funded mission to deliver the MoonRanger rover and eight scientific payloads to the lunar surface aboard Masten’s XL-1 lander late 2023.

In July 2022,  Masten Space Systems, a company developing a lunar lander for a NASA mission, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with plans to sell one of its major assets to a competitor.

Masten said it received a “stalking horse” bid of $4.2 million for Masten’s assets, including a SpaceX launch credit worth $14 million, from Astrobotic.

Xogdor

Currently under development, Xogdor is Masten’s 6th-generation vertical takeoff and vertical landing vehicle and our most advanced rocket yet! Powered by a 6,000 lbf turbopump-fed liquid oxygen/liquid methane engine,

Xogdor will test entry, descent, and landing systems and other space technologies to enable precision landings on the Moon and Mars. The vehicle offers more advanced payload accommodations, is capable of supersonic speeds, and can also be used for point-to-point payload transportation.

Status Comment / Notes

Astrobotic acquired the assets but keeping this entry for historical records: A federal bankruptcy court approved the sale of nearly all the assets of Masten Space Systems, a company developing a lunar lander for a NASA mission, to another lander developer, Astrobotic.

Sources


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News, Research, Projects and Patents

Title Type Date Summary
Space miners may use rockets to harvest the moon's water ice (video) News 2021-07-02 >

Masten Space Systems, Lunar Outpost and Honeybee Robotics — are developing a new system that would use rockets to mine water ice on the Moon.

NASA awards contracts for lunar technologies and ice prospecting payload News 2020-10-17 >

NASA has awarded more than $400 million in contracts to both demonstrate technologies needed for future lunar exploration and to send an ice-drilling payload to the south pole of the moon.

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