Astrolab unveils LUMIS lunar power and communications node, targeting a 2028 debut

US space startup Astrolab unveiled on 4 November at Kennedy Space Center in Florida its Lunar Utility Module for Industrial Services (LUMIS), a node designed to provide power, communications and data services to customers operating on the Moon, expanding the company beyond rovers into lunar infrastructure.

One node, three services

According to the company, LUMIS bundles power generation, connectivity and data services into a single node, so customers on the lunar surface do not each have to solve power and communications on their own. Initial technology demonstration nodes are designed to generate 2 kW of power, with future nodes capable of 20 kW each as lunar infrastructure expands.

Astrolab also introduced LUNAR OS, an integrated suite of lunar mobility, power and communications products and services, and presented itself with the new positioning of “The Lunar Operations Company.”

A 2028 debut, with the rover going first

Astrolab is targeting its first LUMIS deployment in 2028 as part of its previously announced commercial FLEX mission aboard SpaceX's Starship. Its first lunar rover, the FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform (FLIP), is being prepared for launch aboard Voyager Technologies' Griffin-1 lander later this year as part of a NASA Moon Base mission to the lunar south pole region.

Founder and CEO Jaret Matthews presented the expanded strategy at UP.SUMMIT, and the company plans to display full-scale models of its lunar rovers and the LUMIS node during a public showcase on 7–8 November.

(Cover image: archive photo of an Apollo-era lunar rover, not Astrolab's FLEX rover.)