Astrolab

What Astrolab does

Astrolab (Venturi Astrolab, Inc.) is a Hawthorne, California-based company founded in 2020 by former SpaceX manager and JPL engineer Jaret Matthews to design and manufacture planetary surface mobility systems. Its product line centers on the FLEX (Flexible Logistics and Exploration) rover platform and its derivatives: FLIP (FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform), a smaller technology demonstrator scheduled for launch in 2026 aboard Astrobotic's Griffin-1 lander; the flagship FLEX logistics rover, described as the largest and most capable rover ever built for planetary operations with ~2-ton combined rover-and-cargo mass, a wheel-on-limb mobility system, a six-degree-of-freedom robotic arm, and modular top-deck and underslung payload interfaces; and CLV-1 (Crewed Lunar Vehicle-1), the crewed variant selected by NASA for the Artemis program. Core enabling technologies are co-developed with Venturi Group, including hyper-deformable lunar wheels engineered for the lunar south pole and battery enclosures qualified for -90 to -230°C, supplemented by a JPL-collaborated marsupial deployment concept and HPE Spaceborne Computer edge compute.

The company operates a dual-channel revenue model. The first channel is government procurement, anchored by NASA's $1.9B-ceiling LTVS IDIQ contract (with Axiom Space and Odyssey Space Research as teammates) and a $219M CLV-1 task order awarded in May 2026, plus CLPS missions delivering NASA payloads to the lunar south pole. The second channel is commercial payload delivery, marketed through the open-source FLEX Universal Payload interface with eight contracted Mission 1 customers (Argo Space, Astroport, Avalon Space, Interstellar Lab, LifeShip, Interlune, and others) representing more than $160M in committed payload delivery value. Distribution relies on direct enterprise sales and two launch partnerships, SpaceX Starship and Astrobotic Griffin-1, with Astrolab claiming its payload delivery pricing is approximately ten times more affordable than competitors.

Customer segments are government space agencies (primary), commercial space companies (primary, including startups in resource extraction, biotech, and infrastructure), and lunar resource companies (secondary). The commercial strategy explicitly targets the "last mile" gap between Earth-Moon transit and surface operations, positioning FLEX as foundational infrastructure for sustained human and commercial presence on the Moon and Mars. There is no disclosed standalone revenue, ARR, or completed mission at the time of writing, and all revenue is forward-weighted against FLIP and CLV-1 launch milestones between 2026 and 2028.

Name

Astrolab

Legal name

Venturi Astrolab, Inc.

Website

https://astrolab.space

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Astrolab designs and manufactures planetary surface mobility rovers, including the FLEX logistics platform, FLIP technology demonstrator, and CLV-1 crewed Artemis vehicle. It serves NASA and commercial customers through government contracts and payload delivery services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Planetary Surface Mobility / Space Robotics

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF), Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI)

Keywords

• Lunar surface mobility
• Planetary rovers
• Payload delivery services
• Space robotics
• Lunar logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Hawthorne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Space Contracts: Primary revenue stream from NASA contracts including the LTVS program (IDIQ contract up to $1.9 billion potential value, $219 million CLV-1 task order), and Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) missions. Revenue is generated through development, delivery, and operational services for lunar rovers and payloads.
2. Commercial Payload Delivery: Revenue from delivering commercial customer payloads to the lunar surface aboard FLEX and FLIP rovers. Mission 1 contracts with eight enterprise customers valued at more than $160 million. Customers include Argo Space, Astroport, Avalon Space, Interstellar Lab, and LifeShip for science and brand payloads.
3. Payload Interface Licensing: Revenue opportunity from open-sourcing the FLEX Universal Payload format, enabling third parties to develop compliant payloads. The company provides payload integration services and consultation for customers developing lunar-compatible cargo.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Astrolab designs, manufactures, and operates a fleet of planetary surface mobility rovers — FLIP, FLEX, and CLV-1 — for lunar and Mars surface logistics. The company delivers commercial payload transport services to the lunar surface using its FLEX Universal Payload open-standard interface, and provides crew-rated terrain vehicles to NASA under the Artemis program and LTVS contract. Its products serve government space agencies, commercial space startups, and lunar resource companies needing reliable surface mobility for cargo, science, and crew operations.

Product overview

Astrolab offers a fleet of planetary surface mobility solutions centered around three rover platforms: FLIP (FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform), FLEX (Flexible Logistics and Exploration Rover), and CLV-1 (Crewed Lunar Vehicle-1). FLIP serves as a technology demonstration platform and first lunar mission, while FLEX is the flagship large-scale logistics rover designed for sustained lunar operations. CLV-1 is the crewed variant adapted for NASA's Artemis program. The FLEX Universal Payload system provides a modular, open-source interface standard enabling diverse scientific and commercial payloads to be transported and deployed.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FLIP Rover (FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform) FLIP is Astrolab's technology demonstration rover and first lunar-surface platform, serving as a pathfinder for the larger FLEX rover. It carries NASA and commercial payloads, validating full-sized batteries, tires, avionics, sensors, and software for the FLEX platform. It is set to travel to the Moon in 2026 via Astrobotic's Griffin-1 lander.
• FLEX Rover (Flexible Logistics and Exploration Rover) FLEX is the largest and most versatile planetary rover ever built, designed to support human operations, robotic science, exploration, logistics, construction, and resource utilization for sustained presence on the Moon and Mars. Features include a modular payload interface, 6DOF robotic arm, wheel-on-limb mobility system, total payload capacity of 2,000 kg, and an underslung payload interface that mobilizes up to 3m³ of payload.
• CLV-1 (Crewed Lunar Vehicle-1) CLV-1 is Astrolab's crewed lunar vehicle designed to transport astronauts and their supplies on the lunar surface for NASA's Artemis program. Adapted from the FLEX architecture, it reaches speeds of up to 10 km/h, has a maximum mass of 950 kg, and supports both crewed and remote operations.
• FLEX Universal Payload Delivery Service FLEX Universal Payload is an open-source payload format standard for cargo transportation and delivery optimized for interplanetary travel using the FLEX Rover system, supporting payloads up to 1,600 kg and 3m³ of volume. Pricing is claimed at approximately one-tenth the cost of competitors, with end-to-end payload integration services from design consultation through lunar deployment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Payload delivery cost approximately 10x more affordable than competitors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• InterlunecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Collaboration to integrate Interlune excavation technology onto the FLEX rover for helium-3 harvesting from lunar regolith. Interlune provides deep expertise in operating in the lunar environment and is developing industrial-scale lunar resource extraction technology. Astrolab provides the mobile platform for Interlune's harvesting system.
• Commercial Space FederationminorOthers · 27 March 2026Astrolab joined the Commercial Space Federation (CSF) as a new associate member. CSF is the trade association for the commercial space industry.
• AstroboticcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 February 2025Astrobotic's Griffin-1 lander will deliver Astrolab's FLIP rover to the lunar south pole as part of NASA's CLPS initiative. This partnership provides secondary launch capability for Astrolab's smaller FLIP platform, with Griffin-1 scheduled to launch via Falcon Heavy.
• NASAflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2024NASA awarded Astrolab a contract under the Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services (LTVS) program as one of three teams. The contract has potential maximum value of $1.9 billion for Astrolab, with collective potential of $4.6 billion across all three awardees over 13 years. NASA continues to work closely with Astrolab through Johnson Space Center.
• Axiom SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2024Teammate on LTVS contract providing expertise in spacesuit integration, crew displays and controls, tool design, operations, and human systems engineering. Axiom Space contributes EVA and spacesuit experience to ensure CLV-1 can support astronauts conducting science and exploration.
• Odyssey Space ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2024Teammate on LTVS contract providing flight software development, simulation, systems engineering, safety analysis, guidance, navigation and control (GNC), flight dynamics, and operations expertise. Contributes human-rated spacecraft software experience.
• Hewlett Packard EnterprisecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Partnership through HPE's Spaceborne Computer program to extend edge computing capabilities from the International Space Station to lunar missions. HPE's Spaceborne Computer has been integrated into FLIP and FLEX rovers for real-time data processing, enabling compute power required for a future lunar economy.
• Astroport Space TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024MOU signed to integrate Astroport's autonomous excavation and regolith processing tools with FLEX rover for lunar site preparation including landing pad creation and roadway construction. Astroport develops patent-pending regolith solidification technologies using 3D printing and autonomous robotics.
• SpaceXflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 31 March 2023SpaceX will transport Astrolab's FLEX rover to the lunar surface using its Starship launch and landing system for Mission 1 as soon as mid-2026. Agreement includes a two-year launch window. SpaceX provides the critical launch and landing capability that enables Astrolab's lunar operations.
• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2022Collaboration to demonstrate a marsupial rover deployment concept where FLEX transports JPL's Axel rover to extreme terrain. JPL and Astrolab conducted multi-day field testing at Dumont Dunes, California in December 2021, demonstrating FLEX's ability to deploy secondary robots for exploring challenging planetary surfaces.
• Venturi GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Strategic partnership with Venturi Group, an electric vehicle pioneer, for development of hyper-deformable lunar wheels, batteries, and battery management systems. Venturi designs bespoke battery enclosures and wheel technology specifically for lunar extreme environments. This is a core technology partnership integral to Astrolab's rover capabilities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Axiom Space: Axiom Space is Astrolab's teammate on the LTVS contract (spacesuits, EVA integration, human systems engineering). Broader commercial space station builder with overlapping Artemis-era customer base.
• SpaceX:
• NASA JPL: JPL built and operates Mars Exploration Rovers, Curiosity, and Perseverance, and collaborated with Astrolab on the Axel marsupial rover demonstration. JPL sets the technological benchmark in planetary surface mobility.

Direct peers

• ispace: ispace is developing lunar landers and rovers (Hakuto-R, Series 2) with commercial and government payload customers, operating as a peer in the commercial lunar services market, primarily outside the US.
• Intuitive Machines: Intuitive Machines builds lunar landers and rovers (Micro-Nova hopper) under NASA CLPS contracts, competing head-to-head with Astrolab for commercial lunar payload customers and government contracts.
• Astrobotic Technology: Astrobotic develops lunar landers (Peregrine, Griffin) and rovers, and is itself an Astrolab launch partner via Griffin-1. Directly comparable as a CLPS-era commercial lunar company.
• Lunar Outpost: Lunar Outpost develops the MAPP rover for lunar exploration and resource prospecting, sharing Astrolab's focus on commercial lunar surface mobility and NASA payload delivery.

Emerging players

• Venturi Space: Venturi Space is Astrolab's flagship technology partner, co-developing hyper-deformable lunar wheels and bespoke battery systems for extreme lunar conditions. Closely tied to Astrolab's core vehicle architecture.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/astrolab_space
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/Astrolab-Space
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/astrolabspace
• Instagraminstagram.com/astrolab.space

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Astrolab