Astrobotic Technology

<h2 id="history">History</h2>
In 2007, the team declared its goal to be the first commercial operation to land on the <a href="/facts/Moon/zKHqEMPb">Moon</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a> That year, the company completed a running prototype of a spacecraft called Red Rover; they also renamed their concept lander from Artemis Lander to Griffin.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a>
On July 28, 2008, <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a> gave money to Astrobotic for a concept study on "<a href="/facts/Regolith/EdXuHK56">regolith</a> moving methods".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a> The next year, Astrobotic began to receive Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding from NASA totaling over US$795,000 to investigate prospecting for lunar resources,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a> which eventually led to a concept called Polar Excavator.
On October 15, 2010, NASA awarded a contract to Astrobotic for Innovative Lunar Demonstrations Data (ILDD) <a href="/facts/Fixed-price_contract/xIFkLVIg">firm-fixed-price</a> <a href="/facts/Indefinite_delivery%2findefinite_quantity/CupK3Fzu">indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity</a> contracts with a total value up to US$30.1 million over up to five years, and in December 2010, NASA's US$500,000 ILDD project for further Lunar Demonstrations Data was awarded to Astrobotic.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a>
Astrobotic's proposal "Technologies Enabling Exploration of Skylights, Lava Tubes, and Caves" was a Phase I selection for <a href="/facts/NASA_Institute_for_Advanced_Concepts/4hYhDWSK">NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts</a> (NIAC).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a> In April 2011, Astrobotic received a US$599,000 two-year contract to develop a scalable gravity offload device for testing rover mobility in simulated lunar gravity under NASA's <a href="/facts/Small_Business_Technology_Transfer_Program/0XBSXmpt">Small Business Technology Transfer Program</a> (STTR).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a>
In May 2012, David Gump left the position of President of Astrobotic and John Thornton took his place.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a>
On April 30, 2014, NASA announced that Astrobotic Technology was one of the three companies selected for the <a href="/facts/Lunar_CATALYST/uPl42UsT">Lunar CATALYST</a> initiative.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a> NASA was negotiating a 3-year no-funds-exchanged Space Act Agreement (SAA) where the Griffin lander may be involved.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a> The CATALYST agreement was extended in October 2017 for 2 years.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17">17</a>
On June 2, 2016, Astrobotic Technology announced a new design of its Griffin concept lander and named it Peregrine.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18">18</a> <a href="/facts/Airbus_Defence_and_Space/nwu5qPRe">Airbus Defence and Space</a> signed a memorandum of understanding to provide engineering support for Astrobotic as it refines the lander's design. In December 2016, Astrobotic slipped their estimated launch date to 2019 and separated from the <a href="/facts/Google_Lunar_X_Prize/nkwLKplf">Google Lunar X Prize</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19">19</a>
On November 29, 2018, Astrobotic was declared eligible to bid on NASA's <a href="/facts/Commercial_Lunar_Payload_Services/g5gL2TuH">Commercial Lunar Payload Services</a> to deliver science and technology payloads to the Moon.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20">20</a> Astrobotic's successful bid drew a US$79.5 million contract to deliver payloads to <a href="/facts/Lacus_Mortis/jAIbWGhW">Lacus Mortis</a>. Astrobotic set an initial target of 14 payloads to launch starting in July 2021.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21">21</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22">22</a>
In September 2019, Spacebit signed an agreement to deliver the first UK lunar rover Asagumo on Astrobotic's upcoming mission in 2021 and named this "Spacebit mission one".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23">23</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24">24</a>
On September 25, 2019, John Thornton of Astrobotic was named CEO of the Year by the Pittsburgh Technology Council at the 23rd annual Tech50 awards ceremony.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25">25</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26">26</a>
On January 24, 2021, <a href="/facts/MrBeast/EjWCmRzg">MrBeast</a>, a <a href="/facts/YouTube/db276jst">YouTuber</a>, said that he would place a payload on the Peregrine lander: a <a href="/facts/Hard_drive/kekLSGSE">hard drive</a> containing large numbers of digital image files submitted by anyone who contributed US$10 via his online store.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27">27</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28">28</a>
In June 2021, the maiden flight of <a href="/facts/Vulcan_Centaur/ItQaJHkk">Vulcan Centaur</a>, carrying the first Peregrine lander as its payload, was delayed to 2022 due to payload and engine testing delays.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29">29</a>
In November 2021, Astrobotic Technology was named one of the "World's Best Employers in the Space Industry" by Everything Space, a recruitment platform specializing in the <a href="/facts/Space_industry/yjYlzIsA">space industry</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30">30</a>
In September 2022, Astrobotic acquired <a href="/facts/Masten_Space_Systems/5VqDoy3W">Masten Space Systems</a>, which had gone into Chapter 11 bankruptcy two months earlier. Masten was assigned to be "Astrobotic's Propulsion and Test Department". Among its assets is the Broadsword 110 kN 3D-printed aluminum engine, which continues to be developed.
Problems with ground systems during the wet dress rehearsal on December 8, 2023, delayed the maiden flight of the Vulcan Centaur until 2024.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:31" href="#fn:31">31</a>
The Peregrine lander was launched on January 8, 2024, from Florida's Space Force Station LC-41, aboard the maiden flight of Vulcan Centaur.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:32" href="#fn:32">32</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:33" href="#fn:33">33</a> A propellant leak prevented it from reaching the Moon for a soft or hard landing.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:34" href="#fn:34">34</a> The mission was never able to leave its original (highly elliptical) Earth orbit and it ended with a controlled reentry into the Earth's atmosphere above the Pacific Ocean on January 18, 2024.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:35" href="#fn:35">35</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:36" href="#fn:36">36</a>
In 2024, the company announced its ‘Luna Grid’ service. By combining the company’s landers and rovers equipped with its Vertical Array Solar Panels, the company hopes to be able to provide sustainable power on the lunar surface.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:37" href="#fn:37">37</a>

<h2 id="missions">Missions</h2>
<h3>Canceled missions</h3>
<ul><li>In April 2011, Astrobotic contracted with <a href="/facts/SpaceX/2tKHsVdJ">SpaceX</a> for a <a href="/facts/Falcon_9/mNck6vby">Falcon 9</a> launch of a <a href="/facts/Lunar_north_pole/VK9AtMXm">lunar north pole</a> mission for as early as December 2013. The mission was intended to launch the Griffin lander and deliver "a small <a href="/facts/Lunar_rover/PhwSy8DE">rover</a> and up to about 110 kg (240 lb) of payload to the surface of the Moon".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:38" href="#fn:38">38</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:39" href="#fn:39">39</a> The launch date slipped to 2015, and it was first named Polar Excavator, and then Icebreaker, that would target the <a href="/facts/Lunar_north_pole/VK9AtMXm">lunar north pole</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:40" href="#fn:40">40</a> This expedition's rover was to be Polaris.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:41" href="#fn:41">41</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:42" href="#fn:42">42</a> A model of the Polaris rover was unveiled in October 2012,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:43" href="#fn:43">43</a> and the company indicated that they were still under contract to SpaceX for a Falcon 9 mission.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:44" href="#fn:44">44</a> The launch date further slipped to 2016, and Astrobotic contracted with two other GLXP teams including Team <a href="/facts/Hakuto/nfmQqGbL">Hakuto</a> and <a href="/facts/Team_AngelicvM/sreRcAhE">Team AngelicvM</a> to share the launch expenses. The agreement was to launch the rovers of all teams on a single <a href="/facts/SpaceX/2tKHsVdJ">SpaceX</a> <a href="/facts/Falcon_9_v1.1/2fd9FJJQ">Falcon 9 v1.1</a> which would then use the Astrobotic Griffin lander. After landing on the lunar surface, all teams would have competed against each other to achieve the specific GLXP objectives and earn the various prizes.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:45" href="#fn:45">45</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:46" href="#fn:46">46</a> The Griffin lander was never built, and Icebreaker mission was not launched.</li></ul>

<ul><li>MoonRanger is a 13 kg (29 lb) rover being developed to carry payloads on the Moon for NASA's <a href="/facts/Commercial_Lunar_Payload_Services/g5gL2TuH">Commercial Lunar Payload Services</a> (CLPS). The US$5.6 million contract was awarded to Astrobotic and its partner Carnegie Mellon University on July 1, 2019.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:47" href="#fn:47">47</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:48" href="#fn:48">48</a> MoonRanger was to be launched aboard <a href="/facts/Masten_Mission_One/5VqDoy3W">Masten Mission One</a>, the first <a href="/facts/XL-1/5VqDoy3W">XL-1</a> lunar lander.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:49" href="#fn:49">49</a> The rover was to carry science payloads yet to be determined and developed by other providers, that will focus on scouting and creating 3D maps of a polar region for signs of <a href="/facts/Lunar_water/TKfE5qLU">water ice</a> or lunar pits for entrances to Moon caves.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:50" href="#fn:50">50</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:51" href="#fn:51">51</a> The rover would operate mostly autonomously for up to one week.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:52" href="#fn:52">52</a> Masten Mission One was cancelled after Masten Space Systems went bankrupt in 2022. Thus MoonRanger lost its flight to the Moon.</li></ul>
<h3>Peregrine Mission One</h3>
Main article: <a href="/facts/Peregrine_Mission_One/mlR27Le4">Peregrine Mission One</a>

Peregrine Mission One, or the Peregrine Lunar Lander, was a lunar lander built by Astrobotic Technology, that was selected through NASA's <a href="/facts/Commercial_Lunar_Payload_Services/g5gL2TuH">Commercial Lunar Payload Services</a> (CLPS). It was launched on January 8, 2024 by <a href="/facts/United_Launch_Alliance/yWev1ndb">United Launch Alliance</a> (ULA) aboard a <a href="/facts/Vulcan_Centaur/ItQaJHkk">Vulcan Centaur</a> launch vehicle.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:53" href="#fn:53">53</a> The lander carried multiple payloads, with total payload mass capacity of 90 kg.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:54" href="#fn:54">54</a>
Peregrine carried a maximum payload mass of 90 kg (200 lb) during Mission One,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:55" href="#fn:55">55</a> and it was planned to land on <a href="/facts/Mons_Gruithuisen_Gamma/NMU6bwaf">Gruithuisen Gamma</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:56" href="#fn:56">56</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:57" href="#fn:57">57</a> The payload mass for the planned second mission (Mission Two) is capped at 175 kg (386 lb), and the Mission Three and later missions would carry the full payload capacity of 265 kg (584 lb).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:58" href="#fn:58">58</a>
The Peregrine mission was unable to reach the Moon for a soft or hard landing.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:59" href="#fn:59">59</a> The mission was never able to leave its original (highly elliptical) Earth orbit and it ended with a controlled reentry into the Earth's atmosphere on January 18, 2024.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:60" href="#fn:60">60</a>[better source needed]

<h3>Griffin Mission One</h3>
The Griffin lander is targeted to land in a region of interest in the Moon's south polar region in September 2025<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:61" href="#fn:61">61</a> The spacecraft is expected to operate for 100 days after its landing. NASA's <a href="/facts/VIPER_(rover)/K2he7NLe">VIPER</a> rover was to be the main payload (450 kg) <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:62" href="#fn:62">62</a> until VIPER was canceled in 2024. <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:63" href="#fn:63">63</a> VIPER was to investigate permanently shadowed regions of craters located in the Moon's south pole, specifically for potential deposits of water ice that could be used as resources for future crewed missions. Other commercial payloads are on board the Griffin lander, including the Lunar Codex's Polaris archive of contemporary culture as one of the commercial sub-payloads of Astrobotics' MoonBox initiative.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:64" href="#fn:64">64</a>
In March 2024, Astrobotic hired several industry leaders to assist with the Griffin lander after the failure of the Peregrine lander.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:65" href="#fn:65">65</a> Amidst cost growth and delays to readiness of the rover and the Griffin lander, the VIPER program was ended in July 2024, with the rover planned to be disassembled and its instruments and components reused for other lunar missions.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:66" href="#fn:66">66</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:67" href="#fn:67">67</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:68" href="#fn:68">68</a> The agency still plans to support the Griffin lander to arrive on the Moon in fall of 2025, though with a mass simulator in place of the VIPER rover.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:69" href="#fn:69">69</a> NASA expects the primary objectives of VIPER to be fulfilled by an array of other missions planned for the next several years.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:70" href="#fn:70">70</a>

<h3>Griffin Mission Two</h3>
Griffin Mission Two is a planned mission to be launched in Q4 2026.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:71" href="#fn:71">71</a>

<h2 id="cuberover">CubeRover</h2>

<a href="/facts/CubeRover/VkQhkBVj">CubeRover</a> is a class of <a href="/facts/Planetary_rover/Qo7y32Cz">planetary rovers</a> with a standardized format meant to accelerate the pace of space exploration. The idea is equivalent to that of the successful <a href="/facts/CubeSat/jL2IpYKd">CubeSat</a> format, with a standardized architecture to assemble new units that will be all compatible, modular, and inexpensive.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:72" href="#fn:72">72</a> The rover class concept is being developed by Astrobotic Technology in partnership with <a href="/facts/Carnegie_Mellon_University/XKd7L2KA">Carnegie Mellon University</a>, and it is partly funded by NASA awards.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:73" href="#fn:73">73</a> The <a href="/facts/Principal_investigator/GXE6ILvW">principal investigator</a> of the program is Andrew Horchler. The first derivative of a CubeRover, a spinoff rover called Iris, developed by CMU students, was planned to be deployed on the Moon<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:74" href="#fn:74">74</a> on board Astrobotic's Peregrine lander, but was lost with Peregrine's reentry and never deployed.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:75" href="#fn:75">75</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:76" href="#fn:76">76</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:77" href="#fn:77">77</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:78" href="#fn:78">78</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:79" href="#fn:79">79</a>[excessive citations]

<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul>
<li>Spaceflight portal</li></ul>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Exploration_of_Mars/CbCgmNcH">Exploration of Mars</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Exploration_of_the_Moon/lFKweAk3">Exploration of the Moon</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Lunar_rover/PhwSy8DE">Lunar rover</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Mars_rover/6ueforXf">Mars rover</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://www.astrobotic.com">Official website</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">Foust, Jeff (January 18, 2024). "Astrobotic confirms Peregrine reentry plans". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024. <a href="https://spacenews.com/astrobotic-confirms-peregrine-reentry-plans/" target="_blank">https://spacenews.com/astrobotic-confirms-peregrine-reentry-plans/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">Krovel, Trond (December 10, 2007). "Astrobotic Technology and Raytheon Collaborate to Pursue Google Lunar X Prize". Astrobotic Technology (Press release). Lunar Explorers Society. Archived from the original on November 21, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2008. <a href="http://www.lunarexplorers.net/node/386" target="_blank">http://www.lunarexplorers.net/node/386</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">"NASA Sets Coverage for ULA, Astrobotic Artemis Robotic Moon Launch - NASA". Archived from the original on January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-sets-coverage-for-ula-astrobotic-artemis-robotic-moon-launch/" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-sets-coverage-for-ula-astrobotic-artemis-robotic-moon-launch/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">Chang, Kenneth (January 7, 2024). "Vulcan Rocket's Inaugural Launch Carries Moon Lander to Space - Here's what you need to know about United Launch Alliance and the robotic lunar spacecraft it is sending to orbit". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/07/science/nasa-vulcan-moon-launch.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/07/science/nasa-vulcan-moon-launch.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">"Doomed US lunar lander now headed for Earth: company". Phys.Org. United Kingdom. Agence France-Presse. January 14, 2024. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024. <a href="https://phys.org/news/2024-01-doomed-lunar-lander-earth-company.html" target="_blank">https://phys.org/news/2024-01-doomed-lunar-lander-earth-company.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">"NASA Replans CLPS Delivery of VIPER to 2024 to Reduce Risk". NASA. July 18, 2022. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-replans-clps-delivery-of-viper-to-2024-to-reduce-risk" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-replans-clps-delivery-of-viper-to-2024-to-reduce-risk</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">Mosher, Dave; Duignan-Cabrera, Anthony (February 22, 2008). "Private race to the moon (and money) takes off". NBC News. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2019. Astrobotic: Headed by William 'Red' Whittaker of Carnegie Mellon University, the team expects their 'Artemis Lander' and 'Red Rover' spacecraft to touch down first on the moon <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20221017131904/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna23278871" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20221017131904/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna23278871</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Mosher, Dave; Duignan-Cabrera, Anthony (February 22, 2008). "Private race to the moon (and money) takes off". NBC News. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2019. Astrobotic: Headed by William 'Red' Whittaker of Carnegie Mellon University, the team expects their 'Artemis Lander' and 'Red Rover' spacecraft to touch down first on the moon. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20221017131904/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna23278871" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20221017131904/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna23278871</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">"NASA Awards Contracts for Concepts of Lunar Surface Systems". NASA. July 28, 2008. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2019. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/jul/HQ_C0848_Lunar_surface_contract.html" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/jul/HQ_C0848_Lunar_surface_contract.html</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">"NASA Contract to Astrobotic Technology Investigates Prospecting for Lunar Resources". Astrobotic Technology. April 23, 2012. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120630152324/http://astrobotic.net/2012/04/23/nasa-contract-to-astrobotic-technology-investigates-prospecting-for-lunar-resources/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120630152324/http://astrobotic.net/2012/04/23/nasa-contract-to-astrobotic-technology-investigates-prospecting-for-lunar-resources/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">"NASA Selects Companies for Further Lunar Demonstrations Data". NASA. December 20, 2010. Archived from the original on June 12, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/dec/HQ_10-344_ILDD_Selections.html" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/dec/HQ_10-344_ILDD_Selections.html</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">"2011 NIAC Phase I Selections". NASA. October 21, 2011. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2012. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/early_stage_innovation/niac/2011_phase1_selections.html" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/early_stage_innovation/niac/2011_phase1_selections.html</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">"NASA Awards Contract for Lunar Gravity Simulation Device". Astrobotic Technology. Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120514070418/http://astrobotic.net/2011/04/21/nasa-awards-contract-for-lunar-gravity-simulation-device/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120514070418/http://astrobotic.net/2011/04/21/nasa-awards-contract-for-lunar-gravity-simulation-device/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">Foust, Jeff (May 31, 2012). "Transitions for two space entrepreneurs". New Space Journal. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2019. <a href="http://www.newspacejournal.com/2012/05/31/transitions-for-two-space-entrepreneurs/" target="_blank">http://www.newspacejournal.com/2012/05/31/transitions-for-two-space-entrepreneurs/</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:15">"NASA Selects Partners for U.S. Commercial Lander Capabilities" (Press release). NASA. April 30, 2014. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2014. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/april/nasa-selects-partners-for-us-commercial-lander-capabilities/" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/april/nasa-selects-partners-for-us-commercial-lander-capabilities/</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:16">"About Lunar CATALYST". NASA. October 31, 2017. Archived from the original on August 29, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/lunarcatalyst/" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/lunarcatalyst/</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:17">"NASA Extends Agreements to Advance Commercial Lunar Landers". NASA. October 31, 2017. Archived from the original on June 1, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2017. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-extends-agreements-to-advance-commercial-lunar-landers/" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-extends-agreements-to-advance-commercial-lunar-landers/</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:18">Foust, Jeff (June 3, 2016). "Astrobotic unveils Peregrine lunar lander". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2019. <a href="https://spacenews.com/astrobotic-unveils-peregrine-lunar-lander/" target="_blank">https://spacenews.com/astrobotic-unveils-peregrine-lunar-lander/</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:19">Thornton, John (December 19, 2016). "Graduating from the Google Lunar X Prize". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2016. <a href="http://www.spacenewsmag.com/commentary/graduating-from-the-google-lunar-x-prize/" target="_blank">http://www.spacenewsmag.com/commentary/graduating-from-the-google-lunar-x-prize/</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:20">"NASA Announces New Partnerships for Commercial Lunar Payload Delivery Services" (Press release). NASA. November 29, 2018. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-new-partnerships-for-commercial-lunar-payload-delivery-services" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-new-partnerships-for-commercial-lunar-payload-delivery-services</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:21">"NASA Selects First Commercial Moon Landing Services for Artemis" (Press release). NASA. May 13, 2019. Archived from the original on June 3, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2019. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-first-commercial-moon-landing-services-for-artemis-program" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-first-commercial-moon-landing-services-for-artemis-program</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:22">Berger, Eric (May 31, 2019). "NASA picks three companies to attempt Moon landings in 2020 and 2021". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2019. <a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/05/nasa-picks-three-companies-to-attempt-moon-landings-in-2020-and-2021/" target="_blank">https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/05/nasa-picks-three-companies-to-attempt-moon-landings-in-2020-and-2021/</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:23">"The UK is sending a robot spider to the moon". The Independent. October 10, 2019. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2020. <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/spider-robot-moon-uk-lunar-mission-space-spacebit-nasa-a9150641.html" target="_blank">https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/spider-robot-moon-uk-lunar-mission-space-spacebit-nasa-a9150641.html</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:24">"Astrobotic, Spacebit agree to land first commercial payload on Moon". Aerospace Technology. September 25, 2019. Archived from the original on January 28, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2020. <a href="https://www.aerospace-technology.com/news/astrobotic-spacebit-land-payload-moon/" target="_blank">https://www.aerospace-technology.com/news/astrobotic-spacebit-land-payload-moon/</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:25">O'Toole, Bill (September 27, 2019). "Who won the Tech 50 Awards?". NEXT Pittsburgh. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020. <a href="https://www.nextpittsburgh.com/latest-news/who-won-the-tech-50/" target="_blank">https://www.nextpittsburgh.com/latest-news/who-won-the-tech-50/</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:26">Jameson, Helen (October 1, 2019). "Astrobotic's John Thornton Named 'CEO of the Year' at the Pittsburgh Tech50 Awards". SpaceWatch.Global. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020. <a href="https://spacewatch.global/2019/10/astrobotics-john-thornton-named-ceo-of-the-year-at-the-pittsburgh-tech50-awards/" target="_blank">https://spacewatch.global/2019/10/astrobotics-john-thornton-named-ceo-of-the-year-at-the-pittsburgh-tech50-awards/</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:27">Donaldson, Jimmy (January 24, 2021). "For US$10 I'll put whatever picture you want, on the moon!". twitter.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021. <a href="https://twitter.com/MrBeastYT/status/1353399982443925505" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MrBeastYT/status/1353399982443925505</a> <a href="#fnref:27" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:28">Parsonson, Andrew (January 24, 2021). "YouTuber MrBeast purchases space aboard NASA-sponsored Astrobotic Moon mission". Rocket Rundown. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210124203705/https://rocketrundown.com/youtuber-mrbeast-purchases-space-aboard-nasa-sponsored-astrobotic-moon-mission/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20210124203705/https://rocketrundown.com/youtuber-mrbeast-purchases-space-aboard-nasa-sponsored-astrobotic-moon-mission/</a> <a href="#fnref:28" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:29">Berger, Eric (June 25, 2021). "Rocket Report: China to copy SpaceX's Super Heavy? Vulcan slips to 2022". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021. <a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/06/rocket-report-china-to-copy-spacexs-super-heavy-vulcan-slips-to-2022/2/" target="_blank">https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/06/rocket-report-china-to-copy-spacexs-super-heavy-vulcan-slips-to-2022/2/</a> <a href="#fnref:29" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:30">"World's Best Employers in the Space Industry". Everything Space. Archived from the original on November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021. <a href="https://everythingspace.com/blog/worlds-best-employers-in-the-space-industry" target="_blank">https://everythingspace.com/blog/worlds-best-employers-in-the-space-industry</a> <a href="#fnref:30" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:31">"Another day, another delay to first Vulcan Centaur launch". The Register. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023. <a href="https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/11/another_day_another_delay_for/" target="_blank">https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/11/another_day_another_delay_for/</a> <a href="#fnref:31" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:32">"NASA Sets Coverage for ULA, Astrobotic Artemis Robotic Moon Launch - NASA". Archived from the original on January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-sets-coverage-for-ula-astrobotic-artemis-robotic-moon-launch/" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-sets-coverage-for-ula-astrobotic-artemis-robotic-moon-launch/</a> <a href="#fnref:32" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:33">Chang, Kenneth (January 7, 2024). "Vulcan Rocket's Inaugural Launch Carries Moon Lander to Space - Here's what you need to know about United Launch Alliance and the robotic lunar spacecraft it is sending to orbit". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/07/science/nasa-vulcan-moon-launch.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/07/science/nasa-vulcan-moon-launch.html</a> <a href="#fnref:33" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:34">"Doomed US lunar lander now headed for Earth: company". Phys.Org. United Kingdom. Agence France-Presse. January 14, 2024. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024. <a href="https://phys.org/news/2024-01-doomed-lunar-lander-earth-company.html" target="_blank">https://phys.org/news/2024-01-doomed-lunar-lander-earth-company.html</a> <a href="#fnref:34" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:35">"Final Update for Peregrine Mission One". January 19, 2024. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024. <a href="https://www.astrobotic.com/final-update-for-peregrine-mission-one/" target="_blank">https://www.astrobotic.com/final-update-for-peregrine-mission-one/</a> <a href="#fnref:35" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:36">Wattles, Jackie (January 18, 2024). "First US spacecraft to attempt moon landing in decades burns up after failed mission". CNN. Retrieved March 20, 2024. <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/18/world/peregrine-lunar-lander-astrobotic-nasa-scn/index.html" target="_blank">https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/18/world/peregrine-lunar-lander-astrobotic-nasa-scn/index.html</a> <a href="#fnref:36" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:37">Cowing, Keith (July 25, 2023). "Astrobotic Wins $34.6M For Power Demo Mission On The Moon". SpaceRef. Retrieved June 25, 2024. <a href="https://spaceref.com/newspace-and-tech/astrobotic-wins-34-6m-for-power-demo-mission-on-the-moon/" target="_blank">https://spaceref.com/newspace-and-tech/astrobotic-wins-34-6m-for-power-demo-mission-on-the-moon/</a> <a href="#fnref:37" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:38">Klotz, Irene (February 8, 2011). "SpaceX Lands Contract To Fly To Moon". Aviation Week. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2019. Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology, a Carnegie Mellon University spin-off company, has signed a launch services contract with Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) for a Falcon 9 launch vehicle to deliver a lander, small rover and up to about 240 lbs of payload to the surface of the Moon <a href="https://aviationweek.com/awin/spacex-lands-contract-fly-moon" target="_blank">https://aviationweek.com/awin/spacex-lands-contract-fly-moon</a> <a href="#fnref:38" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:39">"Astrobotic's Mission to the Moon Releases Payload User's Guide". X Prize Foundation. March 3, 2011. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2019. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110726125211/http://www.googlelunarxprize.org/lunar/teams/astrobotic/blog/astrobotics-mission-to-the-moon-releases-payload-users-guide" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20110726125211/http://www.googlelunarxprize.org/lunar/teams/astrobotic/blog/astrobotics-mission-to-the-moon-releases-payload-users-guide</a> <a href="#fnref:39" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:40">"Icebreaker: Prospecting the Moon". Astrobotic Technology. Archived from the original on May 22, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120522160313/http://astrobotic.net/icebreaker-prospecting-the-moon/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120522160313/http://astrobotic.net/icebreaker-prospecting-the-moon/</a> <a href="#fnref:40" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:41">"Rover's Exploration May Lead to Deep Space". NASA. June 22, 2012. Archived from the original on July 26, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/ground/resolverover.html" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/ground/resolverover.html</a> <a href="#fnref:41" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:42">Spencer, Malia (May 29, 2012). "SpaceX success brings Pittsburgh space startup closer to mission". Pittsburgh Business Times. Archived from the original on June 23, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2019. <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2012/05/29/spacex-success-brings-pittsburgh-space.html" target="_blank">https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2012/05/29/spacex-success-brings-pittsburgh-space.html</a> <a href="#fnref:42" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:43">"Astrobotic Unveils Lunar Polar Robot". Astrobotic Technology. October 8, 2012. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2012. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121014174643/http://astrobotic.net/2012/10/08/astrobotic-unveils-lunar-polar-robot/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20121014174643/http://astrobotic.net/2012/10/08/astrobotic-unveils-lunar-polar-robot/</a> <a href="#fnref:43" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:44">Grush, Loren (October 27, 2011). "Race to Mine the Moon Heats Up". Fox News. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2019. planned to launch in late 2014 or early 2015 <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/science/race-to-mine-the-moon-heats-up" target="_blank">https://www.foxnews.com/science/race-to-mine-the-moon-heats-up</a> <a href="#fnref:44" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:45">"Two Google Lunar XPRIZE Teams Announce Rideshare Partnership For Mission To The Moon In 2016". xprize.org (Press release). X Prize Foundation. February 23, 2015. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2015. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150227212328/http://lunar.xprize.org/press-release/two-google-lunar-xprize-teams-announce-rideshare-partnership-mission-moon-2016" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20150227212328/http://lunar.xprize.org/press-release/two-google-lunar-xprize-teams-announce-rideshare-partnership-mission-moon-2016</a> <a href="#fnref:45" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:46">"Google Lunar XPrize teams partner for a 2016 SpaceX moonshot". CNET. February 23, 2015. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016. <a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-astrobotic-hakuto-glxp/" target="_blank">https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-astrobotic-hakuto-glxp/</a> <a href="#fnref:46" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:47">Astrobotic Awarded US$5.6 Million NASA Contract to Deliver Autonomous Moon Rover Archived March 6, 2021, at the Wayback Machine Astrobotic July 1, 2019 <a href="https://www.astrobotic.com/2019/7/1/astrobotic-awarded-5-6-million-nasa-contract-to-deliver-autonomous-moon-rover" target="_blank">https://www.astrobotic.com/2019/7/1/astrobotic-awarded-5-6-million-nasa-contract-to-deliver-autonomous-moon-rover</a> <a href="#fnref:47" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:48">Astrobotic gets US$5.6m NASA contract to develop MoonRanger rover Archived October 9, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Brittany A. Roston, Slash Gear July 1, 2019 <a href="https://www.slashgear.com/astrobotic-gets-5-6m-nasa-contract-to-develop-moonranger-rover-01582409/" target="_blank">https://www.slashgear.com/astrobotic-gets-5-6m-nasa-contract-to-develop-moonranger-rover-01582409/</a> <a href="#fnref:48" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:49">Boyle, Alan (April 8, 2020). "NASA picks Masten Space Systems to deliver science to the moon's south pole". GeekWire. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021. <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2020/nasa-picks-masten-space-systems-deliver-science-payloads-moons-south-pole/" target="_blank">https://www.geekwire.com/2020/nasa-picks-masten-space-systems-deliver-science-payloads-moons-south-pole/</a> <a href="#fnref:49" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:50">Astrobotic awarded NASA funding to build autonomous rover Archived October 1, 2021, at the Wayback Machine Julia Mericle, Pittsburgh Business Times July 2, 2019 <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2019/07/02/astrobotic-awarded-nasa-funding-to-build.html" target="_blank">https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2019/07/02/astrobotic-awarded-nasa-funding-to-build.html</a> <a href="#fnref:50" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:51">NASA Selects Carnegie Mellon, Astrobotic To Build Lunar Robot Archived March 10, 2021, at the Wayback Machine Byron Spice, Carnegie Mellon University July 3, 2019 <a href="https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2019/july/cmu-to-build-lunar-robot.html" target="_blank">https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2019/july/cmu-to-build-lunar-robot.html</a> <a href="#fnref:51" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:52">NASA Selects Carnegie Mellon, Astrobotic To Build Lunar Robot Archived March 10, 2021, at the Wayback Machine Byron Spice, Carnegie Mellon University July 3, 2019 <a href="https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2019/july/cmu-to-build-lunar-robot.html" target="_blank">https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2019/july/cmu-to-build-lunar-robot.html</a> <a href="#fnref:52" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:53">Belam, Martin (January 8, 2024). "Nasa Peregrine 1 launch: Vulcan Centaur rocket carrying Nasa moon lander lifts off in Florida – live updates". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/live/2024/jan/08/nasa-peregrine-1-launch-rocket-moon-latest-news-updates-live" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/science/live/2024/jan/08/nasa-peregrine-1-launch-rocket-moon-latest-news-updates-live</a> <a href="#fnref:53" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:54">"NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023. <a href="https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=PEREGRN-1" target="_blank">https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=PEREGRN-1</a> <a href="#fnref:54" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:55">"Peregrine Lander". Astrobotic Technology. Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2019. <a href="https://www.astrobotic.com/peregrine" target="_blank">https://www.astrobotic.com/peregrine</a> <a href="#fnref:55" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:56">"Astrobotic - Payload User Guide". Astrobotic Technology. 2018. Archived from the original on June 3, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2018. <a href="https://www.astrobotic.com/payload-user-guide" target="_blank">https://www.astrobotic.com/payload-user-guide</a> <a href="#fnref:56" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:57">"Spacebit forms partnership, prepares to send tiny rover to the moon". SpaceNews. October 24, 2019. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2020. <a href="https://spacenews.com/spacebit-lunar-rover/" target="_blank">https://spacenews.com/spacebit-lunar-rover/</a> <a href="#fnref:57" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:58">"Astrobotic - Payload User Guide". Astrobotic Technology. 2018. Archived from the original on June 3, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2018. <a href="https://www.astrobotic.com/payload-user-guide" target="_blank">https://www.astrobotic.com/payload-user-guide</a> <a href="#fnref:58" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:59">"Doomed US lunar lander now headed for Earth: company". Phys.Org. United Kingdom. Agence France-Presse. January 14, 2024. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024. <a href="https://phys.org/news/2024-01-doomed-lunar-lander-earth-company.html" target="_blank">https://phys.org/news/2024-01-doomed-lunar-lander-earth-company.html</a> <a href="#fnref:59" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:60">"Final Update for Peregrine Mission One". January 19, 2024. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024. <a href="https://www.astrobotic.com/final-update-for-peregrine-mission-one/" target="_blank">https://www.astrobotic.com/final-update-for-peregrine-mission-one/</a> <a href="#fnref:60" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:61">Foust, Jeff (July 18, 2024). "NASA cancels VIPER lunar rover". SpaceNews. Retrieved January 8, 2025. <a href="https://spacenews.com/nasa-cancels-viper-lunar-rover/" target="_blank">https://spacenews.com/nasa-cancels-viper-lunar-rover/</a> <a href="#fnref:61" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:62">"Astrobotic wins NASA contract to deliver VIPER lunar rover". SpaceNews. June 11, 2020. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2021. <a href="https://spacenews.com/astrobotic-wins-nasa-contract-to-deliver-viper-lunar-rover/" target="_blank">https://spacenews.com/astrobotic-wins-nasa-contract-to-deliver-viper-lunar-rover/</a> <a href="#fnref:62" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:63">"NASA Ends VIPER Project, Continues Moon Exploration - NASA". Retrieved January 8, 2025. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-ends-viper-project-continues-moon-exploration/" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-ends-viper-project-continues-moon-exploration/</a> <a href="#fnref:63" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:64">"Lunar Codex: digitised works of 30,000 artists to be archived on moon". The Guardian. August 1, 2023. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/01/lunar-codex-30000-digitised-works-of-human-creativity-to-be-put-on-moon/" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/01/lunar-codex-30000-digitised-works-of-human-creativity-to-be-put-on-moon/</a> <a href="#fnref:64" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:65">Foust, Jeff (March 26, 2024). "Astrobotic hires space industry veterans to help with Griffin lander". SpaceNews. Retrieved April 2, 2024. <a href="https://spacenews.com/astrobotic-hires-space-industry-veterans-to-help-with-griffin-lander/" target="_blank">https://spacenews.com/astrobotic-hires-space-industry-veterans-to-help-with-griffin-lander/</a> <a href="#fnref:65" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:66">"NASA Ends VIPER Project, Continues Moon Exploration - NASA". Retrieved July 17, 2024. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-ends-viper-project-continues-moon-exploration/" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-ends-viper-project-continues-moon-exploration/</a> <a href="#fnref:66" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:67">Tingley, Brett (July 17, 2024). "NASA cancels $450 million VIPER moon rover due to budget concerns". Space.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024. <a href="https://www.space.com/nasa-cancels-viper-moon-rover-budget" target="_blank">https://www.space.com/nasa-cancels-viper-moon-rover-budget</a> <a href="#fnref:67" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:68">Boyle, Alan (July 17, 2024). "NASA Stops Work on VIPER Moon Rover, Citing Cost and Schedule Issues". Universe Today. Archived from the original on July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024. <a href="https://www.universetoday.com/167805/nasa-stops-work-on-viper-moon-rover/" target="_blank">https://www.universetoday.com/167805/nasa-stops-work-on-viper-moon-rover/</a> <a href="#fnref:68" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:69">NASA Video (July 17, 2024). Exploration Science Program Update (July 17, 2024) (Press Conference). Retrieved July 18, 2024 – via YouTube. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd2ES2H6UQc" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd2ES2H6UQc</a> <a href="#fnref:69" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:70">Boyle, Alan (July 17, 2024). "NASA Stops Work on VIPER Moon Rover, Citing Cost and Schedule Issues". Universe Today. Archived from the original on July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024. <a href="https://www.universetoday.com/167805/nasa-stops-work-on-viper-moon-rover/" target="_blank">https://www.universetoday.com/167805/nasa-stops-work-on-viper-moon-rover/</a> <a href="#fnref:70" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:71">Chapla, Alivia (July 23, 2024). "Orbital Space Announces Historic First Privately Funded Lunar Mission from the Arab World". Astrobotic. Retrieved January 8, 2025. <a href="https://www.astrobotic.com/orbital-space-announces-historic-first-privately-funded-lunar-mission-from-the-arab-world/" target="_blank">https://www.astrobotic.com/orbital-space-announces-historic-first-privately-funded-lunar-mission-from-the-arab-world/</a> <a href="#fnref:71" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:72">Campbell, Lloyd (March 18, 2018). "Astrobotic wins NASA award to produce small lunar rover". Spaceflight Insider. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190814140120/https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/commercial/astrobotic-wins-nasa-award-produce-small-lunar-rover/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20190814140120/https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/commercial/astrobotic-wins-nasa-award-produce-small-lunar-rover/</a> <a href="#fnref:72" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:73">Campbell, Lloyd (March 18, 2018). "Astrobotic wins NASA award to produce small lunar rover". Spaceflight Insider. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190814140120/https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/commercial/astrobotic-wins-nasa-award-produce-small-lunar-rover/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20190814140120/https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/commercial/astrobotic-wins-nasa-award-produce-small-lunar-rover/</a> <a href="#fnref:73" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:74">Berger, Eric (June 25, 2021). "Rocket Report: China to copy SpaceX's Super Heavy? Vulcan slips to 2022". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021. <a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/06/rocket-report-china-to-copy-spacexs-super-heavy-vulcan-slips-to-2022/2/" target="_blank">https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/06/rocket-report-china-to-copy-spacexs-super-heavy-vulcan-slips-to-2022/2/</a> <a href="#fnref:74" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:75">"Final Update for Peregrine Mission One". January 19, 2024. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024. <a href="https://www.astrobotic.com/final-update-for-peregrine-mission-one/" target="_blank">https://www.astrobotic.com/final-update-for-peregrine-mission-one/</a> <a href="#fnref:75" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:76">David, Leonard (March 16, 2018). "This Tiny Private CubeRover Could Reach the Moon by 2020". Space.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2019. <a href="https://www.space.com/40000-astrobotic-cuberover-moon-launch-2020.html" target="_blank">https://www.space.com/40000-astrobotic-cuberover-moon-launch-2020.html</a> <a href="#fnref:76" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:77">Jost, Kevin (May 8, 2017). "Astrobotic to develop CubeRover standard for planetary surface mobility". Autonomous Vehicle Technology. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019. <a href="https://www.autonomousvehicletech.com/articles/64-astrobotic-to-develop-cuberover-standard-for-planetary-surface-mobility" target="_blank">https://www.autonomousvehicletech.com/articles/64-astrobotic-to-develop-cuberover-standard-for-planetary-surface-mobility</a> <a href="#fnref:77" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:78">"Astrobotic Awarded US$79.5 Million Contract to Deliver 14 NASA Payloads to the Moon" (Press release). Astrobotic Technology. May 31, 2019. Archived from the original on September 4, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2019. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200904004314/https://www.astrobotic.com/2019/5/31/astrobotic-awarded-79-5-million-contract-to-deliver-14-nasa-payloads-to-the-moon" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20200904004314/https://www.astrobotic.com/2019/5/31/astrobotic-awarded-79-5-million-contract-to-deliver-14-nasa-payloads-to-the-moon</a> <a href="#fnref:78" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:79">Spice, Byron (May 14, 2020). "Iris Lunar Rover Meets Milestone for Flight". Carnegie Mellon University News. Archived from the original on May 22, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020. <a href="https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2020/may/iris-meets-milestone.html" target="_blank">https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2020/may/iris-meets-milestone.html</a> <a href="#fnref:79" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Astrobotic Technology open-in-new

Astrobotic Technology