Astrolab’s FLEX rover is designed to transport equipment and support infrastructure deployment across the lunar surface.Astrolab

Key Takeaways

  • Initial LUMIS demonstration units are designed to generate 2 kW, while future versions could reach 20 kW per node.

  • Moving infrastructure just 50 meters near the lunar south pole could significantly change solar exposure and Earth communications visibility.

  • LUMIS nodes are designed to operate for more than 400 hours using internal power reserves while supporting external equipment.

Astrolab plans to build a lunar power and communications network capable of delivering more than 100 kilowatts (kW) of electricity using utility nodes deployed by its FLEX rovers.

The company unveiled the Lunar Utility Module for Industrial Services (LUMIS) on November 4, describing it as a system designed to provide energy, connectivity, and data services to customers operating on the Moon.

Initial LUMIS demonstration nodes are designed to generate 2 kW of power each, while future versions could reach 20 kW. Multiple units could be delivered on a cargo lander, transported by a single FLEX rover and connected to form a network exceeding 100 kW.

Astrolab says this approach could provide substantial power before anticipated nuclear energy systems become available, without the regulatory and safety requirements associated with nuclear installations.

The announcement also marks the expansion of Astrolab’s business beyond lunar rovers. Its newly introduced Lunar Operating System (LUNAR OS) combines FLEX mobility systems with LUMIS power, communications and data services to support longer-term human and robotic operations.

Rovers position lunar infrastructure

Unlike conventional infrastructure delivered to a fixed landing site, LUMIS nodes could be transported tens of kilometers across the lunar surface after landing.

Astrolab’s FLEX rover would carry the equipment to locations with better sunlight exposure and communications coverage. This separates the choice of a safe landing location from the positioning of operational infrastructure, potentially allowing more equipment to be delivered with fewer lunar flights.

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The distinction is particularly important near the Moon’s south pole, where small changes in terrain can affect solar exposure and direct visibility of Earth.

Astrolab said moving infrastructure by just 50 meters could result in hundreds of additional hours of darkness or reduce near-continuous visibility of Earth to roughly half the time.

The company identified the Shackleton–de Gerlache connecting ridge as an area where communications coverage could be challenging. LUMIS nodes positioned at elevated locations on Malapert Massif or Mons Mouton could maintain near-continuous links with Earth while retaining visibility of the ridge, more than 100 kilometers away.

Nodes placed along the ridge could then relay communications through inter-node links, providing local Wi-Fi and5Gconnectivity for equipment and operations.

Power supports sustained operations

LUMIS is being developed with a vertical solar array tower, batteries, transceivers, wireless power transfer capabilities, and onboard edge computing.

The system is designed to provide direct-to-Earth communications, local wireless connectivity and long-range backhaul links between installations. Its internal power reserves are intended to support operations for more than 400 hours while continuing to supply external payloads.

Potential applications include recharging visiting rovers, transmitting scientific data toEarthand powering equipment used for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), which involves extracting and processing local lunar materials.

Astrolab plans to offer these capabilities as services through LUNAR OS. Rather than building and maintaining their own infrastructure, customers could pay for access and usage, with shared facilities for smaller users and dedicated equipment for larger requirements.

The company is targeting its first LUMIS deployment in 2028 as part of its previously announced commercial FLEX mission aboard SpaceX’s Starship.

Astrolab was previously selected to develop a crewedlunar roverfor NASA’s Artemis program. It is also preparing its FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform (FLIP) for a planned launch aboard Voyager Technologies’ Griffin-1 lander as part of a NASA lunar south pole mission.

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With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.

Astrolab’s FLEX rover is designed to transport equipment and support infrastructure deployment across the lunar surface.Astrolab

Key Takeaways

  • Initial LUMIS demonstration units are designed to generate 2 kW, while future versions could reach 20 kW per node.

  • Moving infrastructure just 50 meters near the lunar south pole could significantly change solar exposure and Earth communications visibility.

  • LUMIS nodes are designed to operate for more than 400 hours using internal power reserves while supporting external equipment.

Astrolab plans to build a lunar power and communications network capable of delivering more than 100 kilowatts (kW) of electricity using utility nodes deployed by its FLEX rovers.

The company unveiled the Lunar Utility Module for Industrial Services (LUMIS) on November 4, describing it as a system designed to provide energy, connectivity, and data services to customers operating on the Moon.

Initial LUMIS demonstration nodes are designed to generate 2 kW of power each, while future versions could reach 20 kW. Multiple units could be delivered on a cargo lander, transported by a single FLEX rover and connected to form a network exceeding 100 kW.

Astrolab says this approach could provide substantial power before anticipated nuclear energy systems become available, without the regulatory and safety requirements associated with nuclear installations.

The announcement also marks the expansion of Astrolab’s business beyond lunar rovers. Its newly introduced Lunar Operating System (LUNAR OS) combines FLEX mobility systems with LUMIS power, communications and data services to support longer-term human and robotic operations.

Rovers position lunar infrastructure

Unlike conventional infrastructure delivered to a fixed landing site, LUMIS nodes could be transported tens of kilometers across the lunar surface after landing.

Astrolab’s FLEX rover would carry the equipment to locations with better sunlight exposure and communications coverage. This separates the choice of a safe landing location from the positioning of operational infrastructure, potentially allowing more equipment to be delivered with fewer lunar flights.

More from Space

See AllSpaceNew virtual Earth model could help distinguish alien life from geology on exoplanetsSpaceSpaceX Starship Flight 15: Launch date, objectives, and what to expectSpaceFarthest human-made object in space loses contact, goes nearly one light-day away from EarthSpaceNASA’s Swift telescope is falling back to Earth, but its science will live onAI and Robotics‘Starlight feeds my core’: Google satellite chip pens first-ever space data center poem

The distinction is particularly important near the Moon’s south pole, where small changes in terrain can affect solar exposure and direct visibility of Earth.

Astrolab said moving infrastructure by just 50 meters could result in hundreds of additional hours of darkness or reduce near-continuous visibility of Earth to roughly half the time.

The company identified the Shackleton–de Gerlache connecting ridge as an area where communications coverage could be challenging. LUMIS nodes positioned at elevated locations on Malapert Massif or Mons Mouton could maintain near-continuous links with Earth while retaining visibility of the ridge, more than 100 kilometers away.

Nodes placed along the ridge could then relay communications through inter-node links, providing local Wi-Fi and5Gconnectivity for equipment and operations.

Power supports sustained operations

LUMIS is being developed with a vertical solar array tower, batteries, transceivers, wireless power transfer capabilities, and onboard edge computing.

The system is designed to provide direct-to-Earth communications, local wireless connectivity and long-range backhaul links between installations. Its internal power reserves are intended to support operations for more than 400 hours while continuing to supply external payloads.

Potential applications include recharging visiting rovers, transmitting scientific data toEarthand powering equipment used for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), which involves extracting and processing local lunar materials.

Astrolab plans to offer these capabilities as services through LUNAR OS. Rather than building and maintaining their own infrastructure, customers could pay for access and usage, with shared facilities for smaller users and dedicated equipment for larger requirements.

The company is targeting its first LUMIS deployment in 2028 as part of its previously announced commercial FLEX mission aboard SpaceX’s Starship.

Astrolab was previously selected to develop a crewedlunar roverfor NASA’s Artemis program. It is also preparing its FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform (FLIP) for a planned launch aboard Voyager Technologies’ Griffin-1 lander as part of a NASA lunar south pole mission.

Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our

Terms of Use

and

Policies

You may unsubscribe at any time.

0

COMMENT

Subscribe to

Today!

Access to exclusive content, expert insights and a deeper dive into engineering and tech. No ads, no limits.

Explore Now!

By

Neetika Walter

With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.