Lunar Outpost: Revolutionizing space robotics and lunar exploration

Lunar Outpost, established in 2017 and headquartered in Arvada, Colorado, specializes in space robotics, lunar surface mobility, and space resources. The company is developing a range of advanced robotic systems, including the Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP) rover series, designed for exploration and resource utilization on the Moon, as well as terrestrial applications.

The MAPP rover series 

The MAPP rover is a compact, lightweight robotic vehicle engineered for extraterrestrial and extreme environments. Measuring 45 x 38 x 40 centimeters with a mass ranging from five to ten kilograms, it has the ability to carry payloads up to 15 kilograms. It is designed for resource prospecting and autonomous navigation, can achieve a speed of ten centimeters per second and includes an optional lunar night survival feature for extended mission capabilities. 

Building on this platform, Lunar Outpost is also developing the MAPP-Ultra, a larger version with a mass of 30 kilograms and the capacity to carry its own weight in payloads. With dimensions of one meter in width, two meters in length, and one meter in height, MAPP-Ultra can reach speeds of up to one meter per second.

For more demanding tasks, Lunar Outpost also offers the Heavy-Lift MAPP rover. It masses 250 kilograms, has a payload capacity of 200 kilograms, and a top speed of three meters per second. All variants are equipped with lunar night survival options (for the largest option, that comes standard), making these vehicles highly adaptable for harsh environments.

Lunar Outpost ‘Eagle’ rover 

Lunar Outpost is leading the Lunar Dawn team – a consortium that includes Lockheed Martin, General Motors, Goodyear, and MDA Space – to develop the Eagle rover. This human-rated, truck-sized industrial Lunar Terrain Vehicle is one of several being created by different teams for NASA’s Artemis program to support the next era of lunar exploration.

In April 2024, NASA awarded a Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services (LTVS) contract to the Lunar Dawn team. The contract tasks the team with developing a versatile rover capable of supporting both crewed and uncrewed missions. The Eagle rover is being designed with advanced autonomous navigation and reconfigurable cargo options to maximize surface mission profiles for both government and commercial customers.

A key feature of the Eagle rover is its planned ability to operate during the harsh lunar night, significantly extending its mission life from days to years. This capability would enhance astronauts’ ability to conduct scientific research and exploration on the Moon, contributing to the sustainability of lunar activities.

In November 2024, Lunar Outpost announced a partnership with SpaceX to deliver the Eagle rover to the Moon aboard a Starship. This collaboration leverages SpaceX’s heavy-lift capabilities to facilitate the rover’s deployment, supporting critical infrastructure development and advancing scientific exploration on the lunar surface.

A legacy of robotic innovation 

Lunar Outpost’s contributions extend beyond the MAPP and Eagle rover platforms. The company’s robotics technologies have been successfully deployed on Mars, with over 5,000 autonomous systems operating on Earth. 

These systems showcase Lunar Outpost’s expertise in extreme-environment robotics and its ability to address challenges in planetary surface mobility and resource utilization. By partnering with leading organizations worldwide, the company continues to push the boundaries of robotic innovation. 

Advancing lunar exploration 

Lunar Outpost’s upcoming missions, including the deployment of the Eagle rover and participation in NASA’s Artemis program, are poised to significantly advance lunar exploration and infrastructure development. 

These initiatives aim to enhance humanity’s understanding of the Moon’s environment and resources, contributing to the broader goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface. Through cutting-edge robotics, Lunar Outpost is set to play a vital role in shaping the future of space exploration.