Masten Space Systems is developing a portfolio of mission-enabling technologies designed to overcome some of the most significant challenges facing future lunar and planetary exploration. The company is advancing technologies that support sustainable access to and utilization of the Moon, Mars and beyond. Its technology portfolio includes lunar thermal management, in-situ resource utilization, navigation systems, dust mitigation, advanced additive manufacturing and electric propulsion components, all aimed at enabling safer and longer-duration space missions.
One of Masten's flagship innovations is the Nighttime Integrated Thermal and Electricity (NITE™) System, developed to help spacecraft survive the extreme lunar night, where temperatures can fall to –232°C (–387°F). The autonomous system generates both heat and electrical power by oxidizing metals using propellant margin from a lander's propulsion system. Activated automatically when temperatures drop below a predefined threshold, the NITE system is designed to keep landers, payloads and surface systems operational for at least 12 months, significantly extending mission lifetimes.
To support long-term human presence beyond Earth, Masten is also developing the Rocket Mining System, an in-situ resource utilization technology that autonomously extracts lunar water ice for exploration missions. The system uses rocket plumes beneath a pressurized dome to fluidize ice particles before collecting the water through a vacuum-like recovery system. Designed for deployment on robotic rovers and compatible with Masten's lunar landers, the technology is capable of extracting more than 420,000 kg of water annually, providing a potential source of drinking water, rocket propellant and other mission-critical resources.
The company is further addressing lunar surface operations through its Lunar Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Network and FAST (in-Flight Alumina Spray Technique) Landing Pads. The Lunar PNT Network uses surface-based sensor arrays to provide GPS-like positioning and navigation for spacecraft, robotic assets, and future astronauts operating on or around the Moon. Meanwhile, the FAST system creates instant ceramic landing pads by injecting alumina particles into a rocket engine nozzle during descent, forming a protective coating over the lunar regolith that minimizes hazardous dust generation and enables safer landings on the Moon, Mars and asteroids.
Masten is also applying advanced additive manufacturing to rocket propulsion technologies. The patent-pending PermiAM manufacturing process enables complex rocket engine components, including transpiration-cooled rocket injectors, to be produced as a single 3D-printed part rather than assemblies containing more than 100 individual components. This approach reduces manufacturing complexity, lowers production costs, shortens development time, and improves engine performance. Complementing this capability are the company's 3D-printed electric cryogenic pumps, designed for 5,000-lbf propulsion systems. Compatible with methane, liquid oxygen and hydrogen, these lightweight, high-power pumps offer improved throttling performance while reducing system complexity and supporting future propellant transfer and sample return missions.
By combining thermal survival systems, lunar resource extraction, autonomous navigation, dust mitigation technologies and next-generation propulsion hardware, Masten Space Systems is developing an integrated technology portfolio for future exploration missions. These mission-enabling innovations are intended to improve spacecraft reliability, support sustainable lunar infrastructure, and enable long-duration robotic and human operations across the Moon, Mars and other planetary destinations.
About Masten Space Systems
Masten Space Systems, now part of Astrobotic, is a U.S-based aerospace company specializing in reusable rocket systems, lunar landing technologies, spacecraft testing and mission-enabling technologies for planetary exploration. The company develops advanced solutions for lunar surface operations, autonomous navigation, propulsion systems, in-situ resource utilization and spacecraft infrastructure to support commercial, government and scientific missions focused on sustainable exploration beyond Earth.
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