The American company Voyager Technologies has reached an agreement to acquire Astrobotic Technology Inc., a major player in the field of commercial lunar missions. According to The Robot Report, the acquisition will strengthen Voyager's ambitions in the area of returning humans to the Moon, building lunar infrastructure, and supporting the NASA Artemis program.

Astrobotic, based in Pittsburgh, specializes in commercial cargo delivery to the Moon, lunar power systems, and reusable rocket technologies. Upon completion of the transaction, it is expected to become a key pillar of Voyager's strategic lunar initiative. The company will provide the hardware, systems, and operational capabilities needed to land on the Moon, support life on its surface, and conduct key operations in the lunar environment.

The CEO of Astrobotic, John Thornton, stated that the company has, since its inception, aimed to demonstrate that commercial companies can deliver cargo to the surface of the Moon. He said that the partnership with Voyager provides the scope, resources, and long-term commitment that Astrobotic's missions require. He also emphasized that the team, technology, and infrastructure in Pittsburgh and Mojave will remain an important part of the company's future development.

Voyager Technologies, based in Denver, plans to invest in expanding Astrobotic's lunar and reusable rocket programs. According to the company, these are key elements for supporting the Artemis program and the goal of establishing a permanent American presence on the Moon by 2028.

Following the acquisition, Voyager is expected to gain a broader lunar platform that covers mission management, communication, propulsion, surface transportation through the Peregrine and Griffin landers, the LunaGrid energy infrastructure, long-term living capabilities through investment in Max Space, dust mitigation technologies, and systems for utilizing local resources.

Astrobotic's headquarters, known as Moon Base in Pittsburgh, is expected to become the center of Voyager's lunar initiative. The company also stated that the Griffin Mission One, which is scheduled to deliver several payloads to the Moon, including two rovers, will continue as planned.

Robotics are also expected to play a significant role in Voyager's plans. The company is already working with developers of robotic systems and recently signed a contract with Icarus Robotics to test the Joy free-flying robot on the International Space Station in 2027. According to The Robot Report, Voyager has the only commercial transition chamber on the ISS, and for the Icarus Robotics mission, it will provide cargo integration, safety certification, launch coordination, and on-orbit support.

According to representatives of Voyager, robotics will become increasingly important, for example, in servicing satellites or building infrastructure for bases on the Moon and Mars. The company believes that such projects will not be possible to build solely with human labor and will need to be robotically controlled to some extent.

The transaction is still subject to the usual approval by regulatory authorities. Completion is expected in early July 2026.

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