SpaceX’s Starship to deliver Astrolab's FLEX rover to the Moon in mid-2026

Venturi Astrolab (Astrolab) has signed a contract with SpaceX to send its FLEX rover to the Moon on the latter's Starship launch and landing system in mid-2026, the Hawthorne-based company announced on Friday.

Short for Flexible Logistics and Exploration, the FLEX rover is expected to be the largest and most capable rover to ever operate on the lunar surface. The rover will bring up to 1500 kg of commercial customer cargo, instruments, and experiments to the Moon.

Astrolab said that it has already signed several customer agreements to carry payloads on this mission, details of which are expected to be released later this spring.

"We've created a logistics system that can accommodate a wide variety of cargo. We expect that this approach will help establish a permanent lunar outpost on the Moon at a lower cost and in less time than previously envisioned. We are delighted that this contract with SpaceX will allow Astrolab to demonstrate the advantages of the FLEX rover and its modular payload system," said Jaret Matthews, Founder and CEO of Astrolab.

Today we announce a launch agreement with @SpaceX - Our FLEX rover is headed to the Moon aboard a Starship landing system as soon as mid-2026.Once it completes its mission, FLEX will become the largest and most capable rover to ever travel to the 🌕 https://t.co/9FAshQJLPY pic.twitter.com/Cbt07LfM2C

— Astrolab (@Astrolab_Space) March 31, 2023

Commenting on this development, Tom Ochinero, Senior Vice President, Commercial Business, SpaceX, said, "Starship is designed to transport large amounts of cargo, including rovers, to the Moon and Mars for research and exploration. Developing sustainable outposts will require lunar logistics and transportation on the surface of the Moon, like what Astrolab offers. We look forward to working with the Astrolab team to deliver their FLEX Rover to the surface of the Moon."

As a versatile rover, FLEX can serve many functions - support human operations, robotic science, exploration and other activities. Astrolab plans to make this rover the pioneer of a series of FLEX rovers on the lunar surface, which would expedite the vision of establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon and ultimately on Mars.