FLIP Rover Joins Griffin-1 on Journey to the Moon
Astrolab FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform Part of Astrobotic Mission
While NASA searches for a new partner for its VIPER rover, it's role on the Astrobotic Griffin Mission One (Griffin-1) will be filled by the Venturi Astrolab FLIP (FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform) rover.
"Astrolab shares our vision of making lunar science, exploration, and commercial activity both accessible and transformative."
John Thornton, Astrobotic
The FLIP rover will be deployed at the Nobile Region of the lunar south pole.
“Astrobotic received worldwide interest from dozens of organizations eager to fly aboard Griffin-1, and we conducted a rigorous selection process to identify the mission partner that aligned best with our timeline and Griffin’s capabilities. Astrolab shares our vision of making lunar science, exploration, and commercial activity both accessible and transformative. By deploying the FLIP rover on Griffin-1, we are advancing humanity’s future on the Moon and enabling groundbreaking U.S. technology demonstrations at the lunar South Pole,” says John Thornton, Astrobotic’s founder and CEO.
Astrobotic is at the forefront of making the Moon accessible to the world as a leading provider of lunar transportation, mobility, and power. In July, NASA announced its intent to discontinue the VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) project due to funding constraints, future budget risks, and lander delays. The NASA CLPS contract to deliver VIPER to the Moon has been modified to serve as a large lander demonstration flight. Astrobotic’s Griffin lander will demonstrate this capability and fly a similar mass load as VIPER to the South Pole region of the Moon. To help achieve this goal, Astrobotic’s Griffin lander will deploy Astrolab’s FLIP rover on the Moon. FLIP will demonstrate core components and subsystems used on the company’s large-scale vehicle, the Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) rover, introduced in 2022.
“By joining Griffin Mission One, we will gather key insights into how lunar rovers like FLIP and FLEX operate in real lunar conditions,” said Jaret Matthews, founder and CEO, Astrolab. “Bringing FLIP to the Moon offers an opportunity to demonstrate and test many of the critical technologies that will advance the commercial FLEX vehicle, including full-sized batteries, tires, critical avionics systems, sensors, and software.”
In 2023, Astrolab announced an agreement with SpaceX to land the commercial FLEX rover on the Moon as soon as December 2026. SpaceX will transport FLEX to the lunar surface using its Starship launch and landing system, and Astrolab has agreed to a two-year launch window with SpaceX. The FLIP platform provides an opportunity not only to mature technologies for the core FLEX platform but also to enable the acquisition of critical science data prior to this commercial mission.
“Losing VIPER could’ve been a setback, but Astrobotic didn’t let up. They rolled up their sleeves, found a new way forward, and made sure this mission stays on track. With Astrolab’s FLIP rover onboard, we’re showing the world that when challenges come our way, we double down,” said Senator John Fetterman (D-PA).
“This is how we lead—not by playing it safe but by pushing forward with the technology that’ll shape the future of exploration. I couldn’t be prouder that Pennsylvania’s Astrobotic is making sure America stays first in line to the lunar South Pole,” Fetterman said.