Extra Large Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT-XL)

Astrobotic proposes to continue the development of an Extra-Large Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT-XL) system that will serve as a large-scale power solution to meet the growing energy demands of Lunar missions. Over the next six years, 26 Lunar missions are planned for launch, many with a shared fundamental objective of establishing a sustained presence on the Moon. Lunar missions are currently constrained by power requirements to survive the Lunar night, as well as the mass and cost of power systems to provide sufficient energy for long-duration operations. As a result, accessible power is a vital commodity for all planned science, exploration, and commercial activity on the Moon and will be the key enabler for long-term Lunar missions of the future. The Phase II contract will be used to mature Astrobotic's 50 kW VSAT-XL system to TRL 4, begin validating our system performance predictions, and refine our vertically integrated manufacturing processes for large deployable power systems. By completing these critical development activities for VSAT-XL, Astrobotic will expand LunaGrid's capabilities to service customers with higher power requirements and meet the energy demands of the growing Lunar market. The total addressable market for Lunar services from 2021–2030 is $105B according to the NSR Moon Markets Analysis published in 2022. Astrobotic used this analysis to conduct a top-down estimate of LunaGrid’s projected market size. Within Lunar services, Lunar infrastructure makes up 12 % of the market and encompasses six categories: power, comms, PNT, SDA, landing pads, and shelter. Because power is one of six categories within Lunar infrastructure, Astrobotic projects that 2 % or $2.1B of the Lunar services market will be for Lunar power by the year 2030. The NSR Market Analysis is the latest report, so if we assume a similar total addressable market (TAM) over a ten-year period and adjust to beginning this year, we are assuming a $105B TAM from 2025–2035.