Masten Space Systems
Masten Space Systems was a United States aerospace company that developed reusable vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing vehicles, rocket engines, and lunar-lander technologies.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Masten Space Systems was an American aerospace startup headquartered in Mojave, California, after previously operating in Santa Clara. The company focused on reusable vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing spacecraft and the propulsion systems, avionics, guidance technologies, and test infrastructure needed to operate them. Its development program was aimed initially at uncrewed suborbital research flights and technology demonstrations, with a longer-term ambition to support orbital launch and lunar missions. Masten became prominent through its participation in the NASA and Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge, a competition intended to accelerate the development of precision landing and reusable rocket technologies. Its Xombie vehicle secured the Level One second prize in October 2009, while its Xoie vehicle won the Level Two first prize later that month. These achievements established the company as one of the more visible privately funded developers of reusable VTVL systems and demonstrated capabilities in autonomous flight, precision landing, engine throttling, and rapid vehicle turnaround. The company subsequently developed a family of experimental vehicles. Xaero was designed as a reusable suborbital research rocket, while Xaero-B and Xodiac served as further flight-test platforms. These vehicles were used to mature propulsion, flight-control, landing, and autonomous-descent systems. Masten also worked on larger or more advanced concepts, including the XEUS lunar-lander demonstrator, the XL-1 lunar cargo lander, and the XL-1T terrestrial testbed. Its work incorporated liquid-oxygen and isopropyl-alcohol propulsion, additive manufacturing, regeneratively cooled engines, and reusable vehicle architectures. Masten was selected for NASA's Lunar CATALYST initiative in 2014 and later became eligible to bid for NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. In April 2020, NASA selected the company's XL-1 proposal for a $75.9 million end-to-end lunar delivery contract. The proposed Masten Mission One would have delivered NASA and other customer payloads to the Moon's south polar region, operated the payloads on the surface, and supported Artemis-related exploration objectives. The mission was initially targeted for an earlier launch but was later scheduled for November 2023 after delays associated in part with the COVID-19 pandemic. Masten also pursued commercial and government propulsion work. Its portfolio included rocket engines, igniters, and the Broadsword methane/liquid-oxygen engine, as well as a DARPA XS-1 experimental spaceplane development effort. The company did not complete its planned lunar mission before entering financial distress. Masten filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2022. Astrobotic Technology acquired Masten's assets for $4.5 million in September 2022 and retained portions of its technical capabilities, facilities, and test vehicles. Masten therefore ceased operating as an independent company, with its continuing activities folded into Astrobotic's propulsion and test operations.
History
Masten Space Systems emerged as a privately funded aerospace developer focused on reusable VTVL flight. Its early work centered on compact rocket-powered vehicles that could take off, maneuver, descend, and land under computer control. The company operated first from Santa Clara and later from Mojave, a location closely associated with experimental aviation and commercial spaceflight testing. The company's major early public breakthrough came in the 2009 Lunar Lander Challenge. Masten's Xombie vehicle won the Level One second prize after demonstrating stable free flight and highly accurate landing. Later that month, Xoie completed the more demanding Level Two event and won the $1 million first prize. The competitions helped validate Masten's approach to autonomous guidance, propulsion control, and reusable test vehicles. Masten then expanded its vehicle family. Xaero was developed as a reusable suborbital research vehicle intended to carry small payloads to high altitude. Its first test vehicle completed 110 flights before a stuck engine valve caused the flight-termination system to destroy it during the 111th flight in September 2012. Xaero-B was a larger follow-on vehicle designed for higher-altitude research work and completed dozens of flights before being retired after damage in 2017. Xodiac, introduced in 2016, became another important VTVL test platform for simulating planetary landing conditions and evaluating flight-control technologies. Alongside vehicle testing, Masten worked on propulsion. The company developed liquid-oxygen and isopropyl-alcohol engines, regeneratively cooled designs, experimental injectors, and propulsion hardware intended for both its own spacecraft and potential external customers. The Broadsword engine represented a larger methane/liquid-oxygen propulsion effort aimed at lower-cost reusable launch services for small satellites. Masten also participated in DARPA's XS-1 experimental spaceplane program, although Boeing ultimately received the later phase of that effort. Masten's lunar ambitions developed through NASA's Lunar CATALYST initiative. NASA selected the company in 2014 and signed an unfunded Space Act Agreement in 2014 for work toward an end-to-end commercial lunar landing demonstration. Masten developed the XL-1 lunar cargo lander concept and the XL-1T terrestrial flying testbed. The latter was intended to allow repeated atmospheric testing of vehicle architecture, engines, avionics, software, propellant handling, and landing algorithms before committing a flight-qualified lunar spacecraft. The company also explored XEUS, a larger lunar-lander concept based on an upper-stage-derived structure and additional landing engines. The concept was developed with United Launch Alliance technology and was intended to demonstrate how reusable or expendable upper-stage hardware could be adapted for lunar cargo transportation. In 2018, Masten became eligible to compete for NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services contracts. NASA selected its XL-1 proposal in April 2020 for a $75.9 million mission to deliver eight payloads containing nine scientific and technological instruments to the lunar south pole. The mission, called Masten Mission One, was to include launch, landing, payload operations, and at least twelve days of surface activity. Masten announced SpaceX as the launch provider, but the mission was delayed and never flew under Masten's independent operation. Masten filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 28, 2022. On September 8, 2022, Astrobotic Technology acquired the company's assets for $4.5 million. Astrobotic retained Masten-related capabilities and continued associated work under its Propulsion and Test Department. The acquisition ended Masten Space Systems as an independent company, although its technical legacy continued through vehicles, engines, test infrastructure, and personnel integrated into Astrobotic's operations.
- 2022
Bankruptcy and acquisition
[1]Masten filed for Chapter 11 and was subsequently acquired by Astrobotic Technology.
- 2020
NASA selects XL-1 for CLPS mission
[1]NASA awarded Masten a $75.9 million contract for delivery and operation of lunar payloads.
- 2016
Xodiac introduced
[1]Masten introduced Xodiac as a reusable VTVL test vehicle for planetary landing and flight-control research.
- 2014
Selected for NASA Lunar CATALYST
[1]Masten joined NASA's effort to advance commercially developed lunar lander systems.
- 2012
Xaero test vehicle terminated after 111th flight
[1]A stuck engine valve during descent triggered the vehicle's designed flight-termination system before it could complete its planned landing.
- 2009
Xombie wins Lunar Lander Challenge Level One second prize
[1]Xombie demonstrated controlled free flight and precision landing, earning the Level One second prize.
- 2009
Xoie wins Lunar Lander Challenge Level Two
[1]Xoie won the Level Two competition after completing the round-trip landing challenge with superior aggregate accuracy.
Products and positioning
Masten positioned itself as an agile commercial-space developer specializing in reusable VTVL flight, precision landing, rapid prototyping, and propulsion technology. Its model combined internally developed vehicles with government-funded demonstrations and commercial technology services.
VTVL test vehicle · 2009
Xombie
Xombie was Masten's XA-0.1B vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing vehicle. It was used to demonstrate autonomous guidance, controlled flight, engine relight, and precision landing. The vehicle won the Lunar Lander Challenge Level One second prize in 2009 and later supported NASA landing-technology experiments, including work related to autonomous descent and landing systems.
VTVL test vehicle · 2009
Xoie
Xoie, designated XA-0.1E, was a lightweight VTVL vehicle that competed in the more demanding Level Two Lunar Lander Challenge. It used a reusable liquid-oxygen and isopropyl-alcohol propulsion system and demonstrated the round-trip flight and landing accuracy required to win the $1 million first prize in 2009.
Reusable suborbital launch vehicle · 2010
Xaero
Xaero was designed as a reusable suborbital research rocket capable of carrying small scientific payloads to high altitude. Its test program emphasized powered ascent, controlled descent, autonomous flight termination, and precision landing. The first test vehicle completed 110 flights before being destroyed by its safety system after an engine-control anomaly on the 111th flight.
Reusable suborbital test vehicle
Xaero-B
Xaero-B was a larger follow-on to Xaero, intended to support research flights to higher altitudes while maintaining powered control through ascent and descent. It completed approximately 75 flights and was later retired after sustaining damage during a 2017 test flight.
VTVL test vehicle · 2016
Xodiac
Xodiac was introduced as a reusable VTVL platform for testing landing technologies under conditions relevant to the Moon and Mars. It used pressure-fed liquid-oxygen and isopropyl-alcohol propulsion with a regeneratively cooled engine. The vehicle was used for repeated flight and aerodynamic experiments before being lost during its 176th flight in 2025.
Lunar cargo lander
XL-1
XL-1 was Masten's proposed small lunar cargo lander, developed through NASA's Lunar CATALYST and Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiatives. The NASA-selected version was intended to deliver eight payloads containing nine instruments to the lunar south pole, then operate them on the surface for at least twelve days. The mission was delayed and did not fly under Masten.
Terrestrial lunar-lander testbed
XL-1T
XL-1T was a terrestrial flying technology demonstrator for the XL-1 and related lunar-lander concepts. Its architecture was intended to resemble the lunar vehicle in areas such as engine configuration, avionics, software, propellant, mass properties, and landing operations, allowing Masten to test and refine systems repeatedly in Earth's atmosphere.
Lunar lander demonstrator
XEUS
XEUS was a proposed vertical-landing lunar vehicle concept based on an upper-stage-derived central structure supplemented by dedicated landing engines. Masten developed the concept with United Launch Alliance-related technology and considered both expendable and reusable configurations. It remained a development concept rather than an operational lunar spacecraft.
Rocket engine · 2016
Broadsword
Broadsword was a methane and liquid-oxygen engine project intended for reusable launch applications, particularly lower-cost services for CubeSats and other small spacecraft. Masten used advanced manufacturing methods to produce an early aluminum prototype quickly and completed a technology-demonstration development unit in 2016.
Brand decisions
2022
File for Chapter 11 protectionOtherBackground
Masten was unable to continue operating as an independent aerospace company.
Action taken
The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2022.
Aftermath
Astrobotic Technology acquired Masten's assets and integrated continuing activities into its propulsion and test organization.
2022
Sell assets to Astrobotic TechnologyM&ABackground
The asset sale followed Masten's Chapter 11 filing.
Action taken
Astrobotic purchased Masten's assets for $4.5 million in September 2022.
Aftermath
Masten ceased to operate as an independent company, while Astrobotic continued associated work through its Propulsion and Test Department.
Asset purchase price. US$4.5 million (September 2022)
2020
Proceed with the XL-1 lunar delivery missionProduct launchBackground
NASA selected Masten's Commercial Lunar Payload Services proposal to deliver scientific and technology payloads to the lunar south pole.
Action taken
Masten pursued development of the XL-1 lander and announced SpaceX as the launch provider for Masten Mission One.
Aftermath
The mission was later delayed and was not completed before Masten entered bankruptcy.
NASA contract value. US$75.9 million (2020 award)
Recent events
- 2025
Xodiac lost during flight anomaly[1]
Other
The Xodiac test vehicle was reported to have been lost during its 176th flight following an in-flight anomaly.
- 2022
Masten files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy[1]
Bankruptcy
Masten entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in July 2022 after failing to continue as an independent aerospace company.
- 2022
Astrobotic acquires Masten assets[1]
M&A · Bankruptcy
Astrobotic Technology purchased Masten's assets for $4.5 million and continued elements of the business as its Propulsion and Test Department.
- 2021
Masten Mission One delayed to November 2023[1]
Other
Masten announced a delay to the planned XL-1 lunar mission, citing issues including effects associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2020
NASA awards Masten the XL-1 lunar delivery contract[1]
Product launch · Other
NASA selected Masten for a $75.9 million Commercial Lunar Payload Services contract to build, launch, land, and operate an XL-1 lander carrying payloads to the lunar south pole.
- 2020
Masten selects SpaceX for Masten Mission One launch[1]
Other
Masten announced that SpaceX would launch its first XL-1 lunar mission, although the specific SpaceX launch vehicle had not yet been identified publicly.
- 2014
Masten selected for NASA Lunar CATALYST[1]
Other
NASA selected Masten as one of the companies participating in Lunar CATALYST, a program intended to advance commercially developed lunar landers.
- 2009
Masten wins Lunar Lander Challenge Level One prize[1]
Other
Masten's Xombie vehicle earned the second prize in the first level of the Lunar Lander Challenge after demonstrating controlled flight and accurate autonomous landing.
- 2009
Masten wins Lunar Lander Challenge Level Two[1]
Other
The company's Xoie vehicle won the Level Two competition, completing the required round-trip flight and landing tasks with greater overall accuracy than Armadillo Aerospace.
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