LITHOS-1
Lunar Payload
Our mechanized lithotroph (“stone-eater“) processes lunar regolith into stable, load-bearing, reduced-dust surfaces in a single pass.
LITHOS-1 is a near-term technology demonstration payload designed to improve the usability of the lunar surface by converting loose regolith into stable, low-dust, load-bearing surfaces. A key challenge for sustained lunar operations is that unconsolidated regolith limits mobility, increases wear on equipment, and creates dust that degrades systems—and poses hazards to astronauts.
At the core of LITHOS-1 is a patent-pending system which works by excavating, compacting, and process regolith in a single pass— without chemical or thermal inputs.
The system ingests regolith and removes the problematic, electrostatically charged ‘fine’ particles—leaving only a gravel-like surface layer made of larger, interlocking particles over a compacted sub-grade.
This layered approach borrows from terrestrial ‘macadam’ paving techniques, adapted for the lunar surface using a single, low-SWaP (size-weight-power) unit.
DVAC TESTING (Feb 2026)
The first full-system test campaign was conducted in a dusty vacuum (DVAC) environment at the Planetary Surface Technology Development Lab at Michigan Technological University.
This critical test demonstrated successful excavation and compaction of regolith simulant under reduced-pressure conditions, validating core functionality. Testing highlighted electrostatic effects as a primary system-level driver, with the current development plan targeting explicit characterization and mitigation.
Planned CLPS Integration
At approximately 5 kg and 20 W nominal power, LITHOS-1 is firmly aligned with near-term mission constraints, enabling practical deployment on smaller commercial landers and rovers, such as Astrobotic’s CubeRover 6U rover platform.
The key differentiator is that LITHOS-1 combines multiple site preparation stages in a single mechanized apparatus using purely mechanical processes, without chemical or thermal inputs (e.g., sintering).
This pragmatic, mission-oriented approach enables a scalable and deployable surface preparation capability supporting sustained robotic and industrial lunar operations.
