Masten Space Systems

Masten Space Systems was a US aerospace company founded in 2004 by Dave Masten and headquartered in Mojave, California, developing reusable vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) rockets and lunar landers. The company pioneered propulsive precision landing technology, winning the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander X PRIZE Challenge in 2009 and developing the XL-1 lunar lander under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program — a contract originally valued at $75.9 million awarded in April 2020. In July 2022, Masten filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, struggling with financial difficulties exacerbated by pandemic-related supply chain disruptions and delayed mission timelines. Astrobotic Technology acquired Masten's assets in September 2022, integrating Masten's propulsion and vertical landing expertise into Astrobotic's lunar lander program as its Propulsion and Test Department. Masten's contributions to precision landing technology and reusable rocket development were foundational to the commercial lunar exploration sector.