San Antonio, TX (July 18, 2023) - Astroport Space Technologies, a San Antonio-based firm, has been selected by NASA to help build a lunar landing pad. The company will develop robots that can use moon dust to create bricks for the landing pad.
Astroport was founded in 2020 by Sam Ximenes, a space architect and UTSA graduate. The company's mission is to use in-situ resources to build infrastructure on the moon.
"We're excited to be working with NASA on this project," said Ximenes. "This is a major step forward in our goal of making the moon a more accessible place for humans."
The lunar landing pad is a critical piece of infrastructure for future missions to the moon. When a spacecraft lands on the moon, it kicks up a cloud of dust that can damage equipment and make it difficult to see. A landing pad made of moon dust would help to mitigate these problems.
Astroport's robots will be able to scoop up moon dust and feed it into a furnace. The furnace will melt the dust and form it into bricks. The bricks will then be assembled to create the landing pad.
The company's technology is still in the early stages of development, but Ximenes is confident that it will be ready in time for future missions to the moon.
"We're making great progress," he said. "We're confident that we'll be able to deliver a landing pad that meets NASA's requirements."
Astroport's selection by NASA is a major win for the San Antonio tech community. The company's work on the lunar landing pad is a testament to the city's growing reputation as a hub for space exploration.
"We're proud to have Astroport as part of our community," said Mayor Ron Nirenberg. "Their work on the lunar landing pad is a major step forward in our city's commitment to space exploration."
Astroport's selection by NASA is a sign of the company's potential to make a major impact on the future of space exploration. The company's work on the lunar landing pad is just the beginning. With continued development, Astroport's technology could help to make the moon a more accessible place for humans and pave the way for future missions to Mars and beyond.
