Voyager to acquire lunar lander developer Astrobotic
Voyager Technologies agreed to acquire Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic, a lunar lander developer, in a deal worth up to $300 million, including $162 million in cash and stock plus potential earnout payments. The acquisition aims to accelerate Voyager’s lunar infrastructure plans under NASA’s Artemis program, with Astrobotic’s Griffin lander set to launch later this year despite its failed Peregrine mission in January 2024.
Washington — Voyager Technologies will acquire Astrobotic, a Pittsburgh-based company specializing in lunar landers and reusable suborbital vehicles, in a deal valued at up to $300 million. The agreement, announced on June 2, includes $162 million in cash and stock, along with the assumption of $9 million in debt, and up to an additional $129 million in earnout payments tied to performance milestones. The transaction is expected to close in July, pending regulatory approvals. Astrobotic’s first lander, Peregrine, launched in January 2024 under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program but suffered a propulsion malfunction hours after liftoff, preventing a lunar landing. The spacecraft reentered Earth’s atmosphere after drifting in cislunar space for over a week. Despite this setback, Astrobotic is developing a larger lander, Griffin, scheduled for launch later this year to carry Astrolab’s FLIP rover. NASA designated this mission ‘Moon Base 2’ and continues to fund it through CLPS. Voyager views the acquisition as part of its ‘strategic lunar initiative,’ aligning with NASA’s Artemis program to establish a permanent moon base. The company previously invested in Max Space, a developer of expandable habitats, to support lunar infrastructure. Voyager’s CEO, Dylan Taylor, stated the deal will enable the company to ‘build the infrastructure foundation’ for a sustained American presence on the moon. Astrobotic will retain its Pittsburgh operations as the hub for Voyager’s lunar program. The company has historically relied on self-funding rather than large venture rounds, distinguishing it from other space firms. Astrobotic’s CEO, John Thornton, emphasized the acquisition provides the ‘scale and long-term commitment’ needed to fulfill its mission of commercial lunar deliveries. Beyond lunar landers, Astrobotic is developing LunaGrid, a power distribution system for lunar bases, and advanced rocket engines. It also secured NASA and Space Force contracts in December for reusable suborbital vehicles, a program that will continue under Voyager. Voyager plans to accelerate investments in Astrobotic’s lunar and rocket programs to support America’s Moon Base plans.
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