NASA selects Astrobotic and Carnegie Mellon for two Moon contracts

PITTSBURGH, PA – Nov. 23, 2009 – NASA today selected Astrobotic Technology and Carnegie Mellon University for two contracts to study Moon excavation robots and methods to simulate the one-sixth lunar gravity on Earth. Lightweight excavation robots are key to recovering the water and hydrocarbon deposits at the Moon’s poles, which will enable explorers to “live off the land” rather than hauling all their supplies from Earth at great expense. New results from NASA probes released last week show that the water content in the polar soil is 10 to 30 times richer than previously thought,... [Read more]

Presidential panel urges “hybrid” lunar lander utilizing work of Astrobotic Technology and Google Lunar X Prize teams

PITTSBURGH, PA – October 22, 2009 – Astrobotic Technology Inc. said today that its robotic Moon expeditions will lead to the private-sector lunar landers that the Presidentially-appointed Augustine panel proposes for NASA’s future human missions. Officially known as the “Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee” and informally as the Augustine panel for its chairman, retired Lockheed Martin chairman Norm Augustine, the group delivered its long-awaited full report to NASA and the White House today. The panel’s summary, issued six weeks ago, telegraphed its main conclusion:... [Read more]

Astrobotic creates robot to win NASA Moon excavation competition

PITTSBURGH, PA – July 6, 2009 – Astrobotic Technology Inc. announced today that it has begun testing a robot designed to win a NASA competition for excavating simulated Moon dirt. The NASA Regolith Excavation Challenge, set for Oct. 17-18 at the NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, will award $500,000 for the robot that can dig and dump the most simulated lunar dirt during a 30-minute workout. (“Regolith” is the technical term for the soil covering a planet, moon or asteroid.) The Astrobotic robot, developed in collaboration with the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University,... [Read more]

Astrobotic Technology and Carnegie Mellon Researchers Show Small Robots Can Prepare Lunar Surface for NASA Outpost

PITTSBURGH — (Feb. 25, 2009) — Small robots the size of riding mowers could prepare a safe landing site for NASA’s Moon outpost, according to a NASA-sponsored study prepared by Astrobotic Technology Inc. with technical assistance from Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute. Astrobotic Technology and Carnegie Mellon researchers analyzed mission requirements and developed the design for an innovative new type of small lunar robot under contract from NASA’s Lunar Surface Systems group. The results will be presented Friday in Washington, D.C., at a NASA Lunar Surface Systems... [Read more]

Astrobotic Chairman elected to National Academy of Engineering — Honored for pioneering robotics work

PITTSBURGH, PA – February 6, 2009 – The nation’s most prestigious organization of engineering experts today announced the election of Dr. William “Red” Whittaker to its ranks. The National Academy of Engineering honored Dr. Whittaker, the chairman and chief technical officer of Astrobotic Technology Inc., for “pioneering contributions to fielded, mobile, autonomous robots.” The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine in Washington, D.C., provide impartial review and advice on important issues to Congress and the Administration. Dr. Whittaker is founder of the Field... [Read more]

NASA UAV test pilot; distinguished astronaut; two technology investors join Astrobotic Technology Board of Directors

Google Lunar X Prize competitor plans return to Apollo 11 site and commercial polar missions PITTSBURGH, PA - November 18, 2008 - Astrobotic Technology Inc., which will pioneer the lunar frontier with commercial robotic services, today announced that four leading space and management experts have been elected to its Board of Directors. “Together, these new board members span an enormous range of talents,” said Astrobotic CEO John Kohut, formerly a senior space manager at Raytheon Co. “Their backgrounds include top corporate management, investments and start-ups, senior NASA... [Read more]

Astrobotic announces series of Moon landing missions, expeditions to build lunar data library

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - October 30, 2008 - At a meeting of worldwide Moon exploration experts, Astrobotic Technology Inc. today unveiled its plans for a series of robotic expeditions to build a lunar data library. “Astrobotic will robotically explore the Moon’s high-interest areas on a commercial basis, collecting information required to design future outposts and to answer scientific questions about the Moon and Earth,” said President David Gump. “Our data library also will point the way to utilizing lunar energy and mineral resources to lower the cost of exploration and eventually... [Read more]

Astrobotic opens Pittsburgh HQ

Astrobotic Technology opens Pittsburgh headquarters PITTSBURGH, PA – Sept. 21, 2008 – Astrobotic Technology Inc., a company founded to provide robotic services on the lunar frontier, has opened its headquarters office in Pittsburgh. Astrobotic intends to win the Google Lunar X Prize by landing a rover on the Moon by May 2010 near the historic Apollo 11 site. Subsequent lunar missions will build a long-term business of robotic scouting and development activities for national space agencies, corporations, foundations and the media. The company’s business team is located across the street... [Read more]

NASA awards contract

Astrobotic Technology wins NASA contract PITTBURGH, PA – August 3, 2008 – The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has awarded Astrobotic Technology Inc. a contract to develop concepts for moving lunar soil in preparation for the agency’s coming Moon outpost. The contract will be executed in cooperation with the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University. NASA’s Surface Systems division of its lunar Constellation Program selected Astrobotic Technology and ten other firms to conduct 180-day studies on key challenges of operating on the Moon. Other winners sharing in... [Read more]