American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and Astrobotic Technology, Inc. announced a joint development agreement to study scalable lunar power solutions. The two companies will conduct a feasibility study to evaluate how Honda’s regenerative fuel cell (RFC) system can be integrated with Astrobotic’s Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT) and LunaGrid service. The goal is to provide continuous power for sustained lunar surface missions, including during prolonged periods of darkness.
Honda’s RFC system operates as a circulative renewable energy system. It produces oxygen, hydrogen, and electricity from solar energy and water. During the lunar day, the system stores solar power in the form of hydrogen. At night, it converts the stored hydrogen into electricity. The only byproduct is water, which is reused in Honda’s electrolysis system, creating a closed energy cycle.
Astrobotic is developing LunaGrid, a power infrastructure service intended to support lunar missions. A central component of this system is VSAT, a deployable solar-powered system capable of self-leveling and sun tracking. The company is building both a 10-kilowatt VSAT system and a 50-kilowatt Extra-Large VSAT (VSAT-XL) to meet growing power demands.
The joint feasibility study will include illumination studies to assess power generation and storage requirements at potential deployment sites, evaluation of the scalability of Honda’s RFC system, and assessment of hardware and software integration with Astrobotic’s VSAT. The companies will also simulate one-year solar illumination profiles at lunar South Pole sites to determine how much sunlight is available for powering electrolysis and storing hydrogen. Based on these results, Honda will determine the appropriate size of its RFC system for different lunar mission scenarios.
According to Honda, the RFC system is designed to extend power availability through lunar nights, supporting long-term human presence and infrastructure development on the Moon. Astrobotic stated that integrating Honda’s technology with LunaGrid and VSAT would increase the reliability and scalability of its power systems.
Honda has conducted research and development in the United States for 50 years, with facilities across California, Ohio, and North Carolina. Its R&D work includes automobiles, powersports, power equipment, and environmental technologies.
Astrobotic, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Pittsburgh with additional facilities in Mojave, California, develops lunar spacecraft, infrastructure, and reusable rockets. The company has been contracted for two lunar missions and has secured more than 60 NASA, Department of Defense, and commercial contracts totaling over $650 million.
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