Astrobotic Technology Inc. will help pioneer the lunar frontier by providing commercial robotic services through missions of increasing scope and capability.
The initial mission, Tranquility Trek, will launch to the Moon on a commercially available booster, win the Google X Prize, and show the world the Apollo 11 site in high-definition video. Tranquility Trek will demonstrate the first precision robotic landing on another world, essential to Astrobotic’s long-term business of supporting the science objectives and lunar outposts of NASA and other space agencies.
Astrobotic’s initial robots are small machines that will be the early surveyors of the lunar frontier, finding the best locations for human outposts and scouting for resources to support the explorers. The company has completed a contract from NASA, for example, to study how robots can excavate and move lunar soil in preparation for permanent NASA outposts.
These are the major revenue sources for the company:
Data: The company will gather growing libraries of lunar data through its own missions, to enable smarter designs of coming human lunar outposts as well as more cost-effective scientific research about the solar system and Earth.
Payloads: Missions will carry payloads for commercial customers, governments and scientific researchers. The baseline price is $1.5 million per kilogram, with adjustments based on each payload’s requirements for power, communications, thermal control and pointing accuracy. For example, the company will bring key components and materials to the lunar surface for testing, prior to their incorporation into the major systems of the national space agencies. Knowledge about how machinery and materials perform in actual lunar conditions will mitigate some of the space agencies’ risks as they plan for their coming Moon operations.
Services: Astrobotic rovers will carry out services on contract to customers, using its vision systems and future capabilities such as manipulators. Services will range from investigating places or objects of interest to starting site preparation for future human outposts.
Media: Unlike a government space agency that distributes its imagery at no charge, Astrobotic is able to deliver exclusive media access to its expeditions.
Sponsorships: Unlike U.S. government agencies that are barred from promoting a private company, Astrobotic will sign category-exclusive marketing arrangements with the world’s most forward-thinking corporations.
