SpaceMiningData
CompanyUnited StatesActive

Starpath Robotics

Hawthorne, California startup that states it will mine water ice at the lunar South Pole with rovers and process it into propellant. NASA reports it placed second in the Break the Ice Lunar Challenge (2024) and tested its excavation rover in a NASA Marshall thermal vacuum chamber (2025); it also sells space solar panels.

Claimed

Resources and evidence

Each resource shows the highest step primary sources support. How the ladder works.

ResourceEvidenceMeaning
Water iceClaimedsays it will
OxygenClaimedsays it will
RegolithClaimedsays it will

Demonstrated

Earth-based tests only. NASA reports that its regolith excavation-and-haul rover placed second overall at the Break the Ice Lunar Challenge finale (June 2024; $838,461 in Phase 2 prizes) and was tested in NASA Marshall's V-20 thermal vacuum chamber (August 2025). Starpath states it produced 48 grams of gaseous oxygen from icy regolith simulant in November 2025.

Claimed or planned

Starpath states it will send 'Shadow Voyager' rovers into permanently shadowed regions at the lunar South Pole and build a 'Starmine' plant for water extraction, electrolysis and oxygen liquefaction to refuel landers; no lunar mission, lander or date has been published.

Facts

Headquarters
United States
Type
Company
Founded
2022
Status
Activeas of 2026-06-30. Active: NASA's Space Tech Industry Partnerships page (last updated 2026-06-30) lists Starpath Robotics Inc. among 2025-2026 ACO awards (HELION); NASA article of 2025-09-26 describes 2025 testing.
Roles
Prospecting, Extraction, Processing / ISRU, Rover / mobility
Targets
Moon, Mars
Also known as
Starpath Robotics Inc.; Starpath; Starpath Space
Website
www.starpath.space

Dated events

Amounts are shown one at a time as each source states them. They are never added together.

  1. 2024-06

    Starpath places second in NASA's Break the Ice Lunar Challenge

    Government awardStarpath RoboticsWith National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationUSD 838,461 (official award record)

    NASA reports Starpath won a cumulative $838,461 across three levels of Phase 2 of the Break the Ice Lunar Challenge (excavating and hauling icy regolith) and placed second overall at the June 2024 finale.

    Sources (1) and evidence gaps
    1. [1]Lunar Challenge Winner Tests Technology in NASA Thermal Vacuum Chamber
      NASAGovernment recordPublished 2025-09-26Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: amount, date, summary
      A space hardware startup from Hawthorne, California, Starpath won a cumulative $838,461 across three levels of Phase 2 before winning second place overall at the challenge's live demonstration and finale in June 2024.
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
    • Prize for the finale placement itself not separated from the Phase 2 cumulative figure

Open evidence gaps

  • No lunar mission, lander, or launch date announced
  • Company website text exists only in a JavaScript bundle and the site carries a noindex 'pre-launch preview' tag; the 48 g oxygen result is a company claim with no independent report
  • Form D (2024) lists a Burlingame, California address; NASA (2025) says Hawthorne. Current legal address not reconciled
  • 2026 investment suggested by SPV Form D filings (Day One Ventures SPV Starpath; Gaingels Starpath LLC) not confirmed by a Starpath filing or announcement

Sources

7 sources
  1. [1]Lunar Challenge Winner Tests Technology in NASA Thermal Vacuum Chamber
    NASAGovernment recordPublished 2025-09-26Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: summary, resource activity
    One year after winning second place in NASA's Break the Ice Lunar Challenge, members of the small business Starpath visited NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, as part of their prize opportunity to test their upgraded lunar regolith excavation and transportation rover in the center's 20-foot thermal vacuum chamber.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. [2]Lunar Challenge Winner Tests Technology in NASA Thermal Vacuum Chamber
    NASAGovernment recordPublished 2025-09-26Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: headquarters country, resource activity
    The technology startup headquartered in Hawthorne, California, won second place overall at the Break the Ice Lunar Challenge's live demonstration and finale in June 2024.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  3. [3]Starpath Robotics website content (site JavaScript bundle served at starpath.space)
    Starpath RoboticsCompany statementAccessed 2026-09-25Supports: role, target bodies
    Starpath's mission is to develop in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) capabilities to enable human exploration and colonization of the Moon and Mars.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  4. [4]Starpath Robotics website content (site JavaScript bundle served at starpath.space)
    Starpath RoboticsCompany statementAccessed 2026-09-25Supports: resources, role
    Starpath's Rover will navigate semi-autonomously to permanently shadowed regions of the Lunar South Pole that have been previously identified to be likely to contain water ice and other relevant volatiles.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  5. [5]Starpath Robotics website content (site JavaScript bundle served at starpath.space)
    Starpath RoboticsCompany statementAccessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource activity, resources
    The Starmine Plant will perform water extraction, purification, electrolysis, and liquefaction of the resultant gaseous oxygen in addition to contaminant management and disposal of desiccated regolith. In November 2025, Starpath produced 48 grams of gaseous oxygen from icy regolith simulant.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  6. [6]SEC Form D (Starpath Robotics Inc., filed 2024-08-26)
    U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR)Court or regulatory filingPublished 2024-08-26Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: founded year
    Within Last Five Years (Specify Year) 2022
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  7. [7]Space Tech Industry Partnerships (2025-2026 Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity awards; page last updated 2026-06-30)
    NASAGovernment recordAccessed 2026-09-25Supports: status, status as of
    HELION: High-speed Exploration using LIDAR for Intelligent Onboard Navigation
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.