Astrotech unit plans early-stage commercial lunar power network

Astrotech Corporation (Nasdaq: ASTC) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Lunar Power and Light Corporation (LP&L), intends to develop a commercial power-generation, energy-storage, and distribution network on the moon, according to a press release from the Austin, Texas-based company.

LP&L's proposed system would use sun-tracking solar towers, battery storage, autonomous controls, surface transmission lines, metering, and recharge stations at a high-illumination lunar polar location. The plan calls for solar generation to serve customer loads during sunlit periods, with stored energy supplying the grid when solar output is insufficient.

Using a preliminary planning assumption of 90% annual solar access, LP&L estimates approximately 7,884 hours of potential direct solar access and 876 cumulative hours of battery support during an 8,760-hour Earth year. The company noted this figure is not a guarantee.

Potential customers identified in the announcement include lunar construction operations, moon-based data centers, mining and resource-extraction operations, and autonomous equipment requiring continuous or backup power.

"Through LP&L, our intended product is not intermittent daytime solar energy; it is continuous utility power," said Thomas B. Pickens III, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer of Astrotech. "LP&L also intends to evaluate nuclear fission power with qualified partners as a potential source of added capacity and resilience."

LP&L is also evaluating a potential proposal under NASA's draft Broad Agency Announcement for the Lunar Enabling Infrastructure Accelerator (LEIA), specifically Topic 1: Vertical Solar Array, under the NextSTEP-3 program. NASA's draft solicitation does not constitute a selection, award, or funding commitment.

Astrotech stated that LP&L remains in an early evaluation and development phase, with no final site, capacity, launch schedule, service date, or project cost announced. The company has not entered any binding agreements for power purchase, financing, or launch contracts. Implementation depends on technical validation, customer demand, financing, and governmental authorizations.

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