Atomic-6 collaborates with Starpath Robotics to develop Lunar Power Tower
Atomic-6 has entered into a development contract with Starpath Robotics to design and build a deployable composite tree for Starpath’s advanced solar power generation system. This collaboration brings together Atomic-6’s innovative composite manufacturing techniques and Starpath’s vision for lunar infrastructure development.
Starpath Robotics is working to establish robotic mining operations on the moon, with the goal of producing hundreds of tons of liquid oxygen annually for use in refueling and for space industry applications. Long-term plans include scaling up production to tens of thousands of tons per year to support broader space exploration initiatives.
Saurav Shroff, CEO of Starpath Robotics, emphasized the importance of the project: “The deployable mast of the Power Tower is a challenging part to produce. A rigid, reliable and lightweight mast is important in optimizing power per mast and, equally important, increasing the visible land area on the moon that can be served by long-range, high data rate communications systems at the top of the tower. In the not-so-distant future, there will be dozens, and then hundreds, and then thousands, of Power Towers providing cislunar capabilities fit for a multiplanetary species. To give a perspective of size, the Power Tower will be a colossal structure, equal to almost one and a half NBA basketball courts!
Atomic-6’s Space Mast technology, which offers a 15% increase in specific strength compared to traditional composites, is a key factor in this initiative. The company’s experience with high-performance composites, demonstrated in USAF STTR projects and its Light Wing solar panels, positions it as a crucial partner in this lunar project.
The collaboration aims to supply and evaluate a high-quality composite mast for the Power Tower. A successful outcome could lead to a follow-on contract for the mass production and deployment of the system on the moon, with operational testing expected in 2026. This project aligns with Starpath’s mission to reduce the costs of space missions and supports the goal of NASA’s Artemis program. of establishing a long-term human presence on the moon.
