Puli Space Technologies

What Puli Space Technologies does

Puli Space Technologies is a Hungarian space technology company headquartered in Budapest, founded in 2010 to participate in the Google Lunar XPRIZE and develop capabilities for the private lunar industry. The company builds lunar exploration hardware, with two core products: the Puli Lunar Rover, a low-cost, lightweight planetary rover platform designed for unique mobility and payload-carrying capability in the harsh lunar environment; and the Puli Lunar Water Snooper (PLWS), a NASA-awarded miniature neutron spectrometer payload using 3 CMOS image sensors with neutron-sensitive coating to detect hydrogen and water ice in lunar regolith. The PLWS was designed to identify subsurface water ice resources in support of In-Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU) activities.

The company's business model is event-driven and combines multiple revenue streams: NASA contracts and grants ($225,000 for PLWS development plus a $30,000 challenge prize), payload delivery services through integration onto commercial lunar landers (Astrobotic's Peregrine, Intuitive Machines' IM-2 Micro Nova Hopper), data monetization (ESA's first-ever commercial deep space data buy agreement signed for IM-2 mission data), and community crowdfunding and corporate sponsorship. Primary customers are government space agencies (NASA, ESA) and commercial lunar mission providers (Intuitive Machines, Astrobotic). Distribution is achieved through strategic payload integration partnerships rather than direct sales. The company's PLWS payloads launched on Intuitive Machines' IM-2 mission in February 2025, mounted on the Micro Nova Hopper drone to collect the first direct surface data from a permanently shadowed crater at the lunar South Pole, representing the company's most significant operational milestone to date.

Name

Puli Space Technologies

Legal name

Puli Space Technologies Kft.

Website

https://pulispace.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Puli Space Technologies is a Hungarian space technology company that builds lunar exploration hardware, including a low-cost planetary rover platform and the NASA-awarded PLWS miniature neutron spectrometer for detecting lunar water ice. It serves government space agencies (NASA, ESA) and commercial lunar mission providers through payload integration partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Technology / Lunar Exploration Hardware

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMABACAD

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing/Spacecraft & Launch Vehicle Manufacturing

SECONDARYIMABACAI

Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing/Spacecraft & Launch Vehicle Manufacturing

Keywords

• Lunar exploration technology
• Planetary rover platforms
• Neutron spectrometer payloads
• Space mission services
• Lunar water detection

Headquarters

HQ city

Budapest

HQ country

Hungary

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. NASA Contract: NASA provided $225,000 funding and technical expertise to support PLWS payload development for lunar water ice mapping.
2. ESA Data Purchase Agreement: European Space Agency signed historical first exploration data buy agreement with Puli Space for lunar data from IM-2 mission.
3. Payload Delivery Services: Provides PLWS payloads for integration onto partner lunar missions (Astrobotic's Peregrine, Intuitive Machines' IM-2 Micro Nova Hopper).
4. Crowdfunding and Sponsorships: Community crowdfunding campaigns (e.g., Golden Team to the Moon campaign via Tőkeportál) and corporate sponsors supporting specific projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Puli Space Technologies develops lunar exploration hardware including a low-cost, lightweight planetary rover platform with unique mobility capabilities and the Puli Lunar Water Snooper (PLWS), a NASA-awarded miniature neutron spectrometer payload for detecting water ice and hydrogen in lunar regolith. The company provides payload delivery services, mission control operations, and analog field testing for lunar missions in partnership with commercial lunar lander providers and space agencies.

Product overview

Puli Space Technologies is a space technology company that develops lunar exploration hardware. The core product portfolio consists of the Puli Lunar Rover (a lightweight, low-cost planetary rover platform with unique mobility capabilities) and the Puli Lunar Water Snooper (PLWS) neutron spectrometer payload for detecting water ice on the Moon. The company also offers the Téridő Plakett (Spacetime Plaque), a commemorative message plaque for lunar surface delivery. All products are designed for the harsh lunar environment and support In-Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU) activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Puli Lunar Water Snooper (PLWS) A NASA-awarded miniature neutron spectrometer payload designed to identify hydrogen and water ice in lunar regolith by detecting cosmic ray and low-energy neutron particles. Uses 3 CMOS image sensors with neutron-sensitive coating to map lunar subsurface water ice resources. Sold to space agencies (NASA) and integrated onto partner lunar missions (Intuitive Machines' IM-2, Astrobotic's Peregrine).
• Puli Lunar Rover A low-cost, lightweight planetary rover platform with unique mobility capabilities designed to carry payloads and survive the harsh lunar environment. Validated through analog field testing in lunar-like terrain (Mauna Kea, Sahara, Alps).
• Téredő Plakett (Spacetime Plaque) A commemorative aluminum plaque with messages from individuals, organizations, and companies, designed to be placed on the Moon's surface via Astrobotic's Peregrine lander. Messages are readable with 10x magnification and engineered to survive tens of thousands of years.

Quantifiable outcome

• First direct surface data ever from a permanently shadowed crater
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Intuitive MachinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025PLWS payloads integrated on IM-2 lunar mission launched February 2025. Two NASA-awarded miniature neutron spectrometers will measure albedo neutron count rates on Intuitive Machines' Micro Nova Hopper drone.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESA signed first-ever exploration data buy agreement with Puli Space for lunar exploration data from commercial deep space mission (IM-2). Historical milestone in commercial space data procurement.
• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA provided $225,000 funding and technical expertise for PLWS development. NASA awarded PLWS 1st prize in Mini Payload Challenge. PLWS targeted for CLPS missions.
• Astrobotic Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPuli Space signed agreement in 2016 to reserve payload space on Astrobotic's Peregrine lander. Hungary became seventh nation on Astrobotic's maiden voyage. Space-Time Plaque and Memory of Mankind time capsule included.
• Lunar OutpostminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSponsor and collaboration partner for lunar exploration activities.
• Memory of MankindminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Space-Time Plaque - ceramic microfilm time capsule with messages preserved in Hallstatt salt mine and aluminum copy on Moon.
• ElektroMont Ltd.minorOthersHungarian electronics company providing quality electronics - sponsor of Puli Space lunar mission.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Intuitive Machines: US commercial lunar lander and hopper operator (IM-1, IM-2, Micro Nova Hopper) and a current Puli Space integration partner carrying two PLWS payloads. Comparable because it competes for the same NASA CLPS payload dollars and is simultaneously Puli's ride to the Moon.
• Lunar Outpost: US company developing small lunar rovers (MAPP) and lunar resource prospecting services with commercial and government customers. Closely comparable to Puli Space in mission, product (small rover + resource detection instruments), and customer set (NASA, ESA, commercial landers).
• ispace: Japanese commercial lunar lander and rover developer (Hakuto-R, Series 2 lunar rover) selling payload delivery and lunar mobility to agencies and commercial customers. Comparable business model — small lunar lander/rover plus payload services targeting NASA, JAXA, ESA, and commercial end users.
• Astrobotic Technology: US commercial lunar lander provider (Peregrine, Griffin) that sells payload delivery services to agencies and payload developers. Directly comparable because it is both a Puli Space integration partner (Puli signed a payload agreement with Astrobotic in 2016) and a direct competitor for the same CLPS payload customers.

Emerging players

• SpaceIL: Israeli non-profit that built the Beresheet lunar lander and is working on Beresheet 2 with small-payload and outreach model. Comparable as a small-team, mission-driven lunar lander competitor chasing similar science-and-pride mission economics.
• Honeybee Robotics: US space robotics and payload developer (now part of Blue Origin) supplying drills, sampling systems, and instruments to NASA and commercial lunar missions. Comparable as a developer of mission-critical scientific instruments and mechanisms riding on the same lander platforms (Astrobotic, CLPS).
• Moon Express: US company developing the MX-1 series of small commercial lunar landers and payload services. Comparable in target market (small commercial lunar payload delivery) and product (small lunar lander) although currently at a less mature stage of operations.
• Canadensys Aerospace: Canadian space engineering firm building small lunar instruments and rover subsystems for CSA, NASA, and commercial customers. Comparable as a small-team supplier of compact scientific lunar payloads to agency missions.
• Dymon: Japanese small lunar/planetary rover developer that has flown tiny rovers on commercial lunar landers. Comparable in product category (compact, low-cost lunar rover) and ride-share business model.

Broad incumbents

• Firefly Aerospace: US commercial lunar lander provider (Blue Ghost) and broader small-launch operator offering payload services to NASA CLPS. Comparable because it competes for the same NASA CLPS payload slot customers that Puli Space targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pulispace
• Xx.com/pulispace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/puli-space

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Puli Space Technologies