Aerospace startup Astrolab plans to launch its 480-kilogram FLIP rover to the lunar South Pole as early as November 2026. The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, which utilizes private companies to transport technology to the moon.
The rover will carry approximately 20 payloads, including a lidar system for 3D mapping, a sensor for measuring helium-3, and the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Spaceborne Computer-4. This system is designed to support GPU operations and AI applications in space.
The mission aims to test high-performance computing benchmarks and the durability of electronics in extreme conditions, including the ability to survive at least 150 hours of lunar night. Astrolab has already completed environmental and vibration testing for the vehicle.
Astrolab, founded in 2020 by former NASA and SpaceX engineer Jaret Matthews, is based in Hawthorne, California. The company holds a $219 million contract with NASA as of May 2026 for the development of the CLV-1 crewed lunar vehicle.
