Trending...
- Free PDF Tools Online: Edit, Convert, Compress, Merge and Manage PDF Files in One Platform
- Colorfront Launches New Mac App For Creating Apple Immersive Video
- Michele Mundy's "Divinely Tailored" Gains Momentum
Portable, flexible, and deployable solar array to support human and robotic exploration
ALTADENA, Calif. & CARLSBAD, Calif. - PennZone -- Honeybee Robotics, LLC., a leader in technology and product development for advanced planetary surface robotics and spacecraft systems, together with innovative solar company, mPower Technology, Inc., announced today that NASA has awarded the companies a $7M contract to build prototypes and complete environmental testing of a Lunar vertically deployable solar array. This program is in preparation for a future technology demonstration mission at the Moon's South Pole, as part of the NASA Artemis program.
Through the Artemis missions, NASA will return humans to the Moon as the first step towards permanent Lunar habitation and Martian exploration. NASA's Space Technology and Mission Directorate (STMD) is working with private industry to provide solutions to power this next phase of Lunar expansion.
Honeybee Robotics' innovative design, called the Lunar Array Mast and Power System (LAMPS), will utilize Honeybee Robotics' DIABLO (Deployable Interlocking Actuated Band for Linear Operations) mast technology, Honeybee Robotics' Dust Tolerant Connector, and mPower's DragonSCALES™ silicon solar modules to create a Lunar power station to provide sustainable energy to rovers, battery packs, and other electrical equipment used by spacecraft and astronauts. "When you think of LAMPS, think of Transformers robots. LAMPS has been designed to be easily maneuverable, folding up into a 'fridge-size' volume for ease of transportation between charging sites," said Hunter Williams, Principal Investigator of the project for Honeybee Robotics. "LAMPS can work as a stand-alone system or connect with other power systems to form a movable electrical grid."
More on The PennZone
"We are thrilled to have been selected to build a power system for Artemis. Technologies that make up LAMPS have been in the works at Honeybee for decades; these were funded by numerous NASA grants including SBIRs. We are very thankful for NASA's continued support and trust in our technologies," added Kris Zacny, VP of Honeybee Robotics.
"mPower's DragonSCALES has been space-tested and currently provides reliable, resilient, and scalable power, which is a perfect match for the rigorous demands of a re-deployable solar solution in a cold lunar environment," said Kevin Hell, mPower's chief executive officer. "We are looking forward to continuing our collaboration with Honeybee and demonstrating LAMPS at NASA's Johnson Space Center Chamber A."
About Honeybee Robotics
Honeybee Robotics, subsidiary of Blue Origin, builds robots for the Solar System's most demanding environments and applications. Honeybee's 400 employees cover two divisions: Motion Control in Longmont, CO and Exploration Systems in Altadena, CA. Motion Control provides unique spacecraft solutions including Solar Array Drives, Actuators, and Motor Controllers. Exploration Systems' three pillars: Explore, Mine the Sky, and Touch Life, are focused on providing space infrastructure, resources, and technologies to find life in the Solar System. To date, we have launched over 1,000 robotic systems and mechanisms to space, across robotic and human-rated missions, and are building large robotic systems for exploration of the Moon, Titan, Phobos, and more. For more information visit www.honeybeerobotics.com.
More on The PennZone
About mPower Technology
mPower Technology is shaping the future of solar power with a revolutionary new technology called DragonSCALES™, a completely flexible, interconnected mesh of miniature solar cells. Leveraging well-established and affordable materials, processes, and tools from the silicon photovoltaic (PV) and microelectronics industries, DragonSCALES enable completely new design options for solar power, removing the constraints of existing silicon and gallium arsenide solar solutions, and enabling highly flexible, resilient, light-weight designs that can be rapidly deployed at extremely low cost. For further information, please contact info@mpowertech.com, or visit www.mpowertech.com
Through the Artemis missions, NASA will return humans to the Moon as the first step towards permanent Lunar habitation and Martian exploration. NASA's Space Technology and Mission Directorate (STMD) is working with private industry to provide solutions to power this next phase of Lunar expansion.
Honeybee Robotics' innovative design, called the Lunar Array Mast and Power System (LAMPS), will utilize Honeybee Robotics' DIABLO (Deployable Interlocking Actuated Band for Linear Operations) mast technology, Honeybee Robotics' Dust Tolerant Connector, and mPower's DragonSCALES™ silicon solar modules to create a Lunar power station to provide sustainable energy to rovers, battery packs, and other electrical equipment used by spacecraft and astronauts. "When you think of LAMPS, think of Transformers robots. LAMPS has been designed to be easily maneuverable, folding up into a 'fridge-size' volume for ease of transportation between charging sites," said Hunter Williams, Principal Investigator of the project for Honeybee Robotics. "LAMPS can work as a stand-alone system or connect with other power systems to form a movable electrical grid."
More on The PennZone
- D&D Journey–Children with Disabilities Matter Names JBlair Brown as New PR & Marketing Director
- Dual-Engine Growth Strategy Ignited: AI Infrastructure Breakout Meets Scalable Circular Economy Expansion: Marwynn Holdings, Inc. (N A S D A Q: MWYN)
- Super Bowl Champion Marvel Smith Inspires Launch of MVP-IQ Platform to Help Football Players Develop and Get Recruited Like the Pros
- The Future of Classic Cars in a World Moving Beyond Gasoline: How Electric Conversion Is Saving America's Automotive Heritage
- Xtel Communications Appoints David Appleman as VP of Strategic Sales
"We are thrilled to have been selected to build a power system for Artemis. Technologies that make up LAMPS have been in the works at Honeybee for decades; these were funded by numerous NASA grants including SBIRs. We are very thankful for NASA's continued support and trust in our technologies," added Kris Zacny, VP of Honeybee Robotics.
"mPower's DragonSCALES has been space-tested and currently provides reliable, resilient, and scalable power, which is a perfect match for the rigorous demands of a re-deployable solar solution in a cold lunar environment," said Kevin Hell, mPower's chief executive officer. "We are looking forward to continuing our collaboration with Honeybee and demonstrating LAMPS at NASA's Johnson Space Center Chamber A."
About Honeybee Robotics
Honeybee Robotics, subsidiary of Blue Origin, builds robots for the Solar System's most demanding environments and applications. Honeybee's 400 employees cover two divisions: Motion Control in Longmont, CO and Exploration Systems in Altadena, CA. Motion Control provides unique spacecraft solutions including Solar Array Drives, Actuators, and Motor Controllers. Exploration Systems' three pillars: Explore, Mine the Sky, and Touch Life, are focused on providing space infrastructure, resources, and technologies to find life in the Solar System. To date, we have launched over 1,000 robotic systems and mechanisms to space, across robotic and human-rated missions, and are building large robotic systems for exploration of the Moon, Titan, Phobos, and more. For more information visit www.honeybeerobotics.com.
More on The PennZone
- L2 Aviation Acquires Advance Aero
- David J. Seibel Joins Atlas Advisors as an Investment Advisor Representative
- $112 Million Contract Backlog for Cycurion (N A S D A Q: CYCU) Enters Hyper-Growth Phase With, Strategic Acquisitions, & Exploding AI Cybersecurity
- Burkentine Real Estate Group Announces Model Home Grand Opening of Red Lion, Pennsylvania Community
- HarryPotterObamaSonic10Inu Celebrates World Record 1,000+ Days Livestream with Record-Breaking Merchandise Launch
About mPower Technology
mPower Technology is shaping the future of solar power with a revolutionary new technology called DragonSCALES™, a completely flexible, interconnected mesh of miniature solar cells. Leveraging well-established and affordable materials, processes, and tools from the silicon photovoltaic (PV) and microelectronics industries, DragonSCALES enable completely new design options for solar power, removing the constraints of existing silicon and gallium arsenide solar solutions, and enabling highly flexible, resilient, light-weight designs that can be rapidly deployed at extremely low cost. For further information, please contact info@mpowertech.com, or visit www.mpowertech.com
Source: mPower Technology
0 Comments
Latest on The PennZone
- As Fluoride Debate Grips the Nation, Americans Turn to Whole-House Fluoride Filters for Answers
- FOCUS Hires Carrier-Side Operations Leader to Build the Next Generation of Insurance Service Delivery
- Adams Security Group LLC Launches New Website to Expand Professional Security Services Across Florida
- Presidential Acceleration of Psychedelic Therapies Enters a Defining Moment as Federal Policy, FDA Alignment & Breakthrough Neurotechnology Converge
- Peernovation And Inception Stratos Launch Joint Venture To Build A Global Peer-powered Performance Platform
- GDE Tree Services Expands Operations Across Logan, Ipswich and the Gold Coast
- UK AltNet FullFibre Solves IPv4 Shortage With netElastic BNG And CGNAT Networking Software
- Best Companies Group Opens Registration for Best Places to Work in Manufacturing Program
- Studica Robotics Receives 2026 Partner Excellence Award from FIRST® Robotics Canada
- Seven Games That Make You Think (and Smile) Earn 2026 Mensa Select® Honors
- Mark Schork Honored by Legal Intelligencer as Lawyer on the Fast Track
- New Research Reveals Gen Z Trusts Independent Sources Over Influencers — Exposing What We are Talker Calls "The Independent Validation Gap"
- Morphy's April 28 Premier Coins auction is a numismatist's dream, with 368 lots of antique and vintage US gold and silver coins and more
- New research identifies The Discovery Gap: Seven in 10 Americans say travel is no longer just about getting away
- PropAccount.com Adds Equities to Its Multi-Asset Prop Firm Platform, Opening the Door to the World's Largest Trading Market
- Ailias Launches Global Partner Programme for AI-Powered Conversational Digital Humans in Events and Experiences
- Village People Headline "Rock The Rainbow" Phuket Pride Finale 2026
- SilverBow Strategies Launches RFPArchon™, the First Product in Its Artemis AI Solutions™ Suite
- Sawasdee Anime Launches Animenture: A Gamified SNS Connecting Global Fans to 2,000+ Anime Sites
- "LOOK UP CAFE TOKYO SKYTREE" to Open on May 22, 2026 on the 5th floor of TOKYO SKYTREE®. This Date also Marks TOKYO SKYTREE's 14th Anniversary

