NASA and the space industry both agree that utilizing native resources, particularly water ice, will be essential for establishing a permanent human presence on the moon.
Starpath Robotics is among a select group of startups preparing for this future. The company is focused on extracting liquid oxygen (LOX) from lunar water ice to support humanity’s expansion throughout the solar system. LOX is a critical component for propellant in vehicles like rockets and spacecraft, acting as the oxidizer alongside combustible fuels such as hydrogen, kerosene, or methane.
Recently, Starpath unveiled an ambitious water harvesting architecture involving mining rovers, refineries, and LOX storage systems. The company aims to launch a demo mission as soon as possible, and has secured a $12 million seed round to support this vision. The total capital raised now exceeds $14.5 million.
While the overall plan remains consistent, Starpath has made improvements to their mining rover hardware to streamline the process. The company is collaborating with NASA and other partners to enhance their technology and infrastructure for lunar resource extraction.
Starpath is proactively addressing challenges such as LOX transportation to vehicles and loading processes. The company is customizing its approach to meet individual customer needs.
With potential customers like SpaceX and Blue Origin planning lunar missions, the demand for lunar LOX could be substantial. Starpath’s goal is to produce 1,000 tons of LOX per year to meet this potential demand.
By the end of the year, Starpath plans to demonstrate its system in a simulated lunar environment and expand its team to accelerate technology development. The company’s long-term vision includes extending its capabilities to Mars and beyond.
With its innovative technology, Starpath aims to pave the way for humanity’s multiplanetary existence, starting with sustainable resource extraction on the moon and expanding to other celestial bodies.
