Starpath Robotics, a startup company, has unveiled its plans to design, launch, and operate machines that mine and refine water for rocket propellant using resources found on the moon and Mars. The company intends to deploy a fleet of mining machines to excavate large amounts of dirt, which will then be processed into water and split into its constituent atoms. Starpath is developing a solar array to generate power for the processing plants, which will be installed in parts of the moon that receive near-permanent sunlight. The liquid oxygen produced will be stored underground in Teflon bags until it is needed as a propellant. Starpath’s CEO envisions a future where methane could be generated from Mars’ carbon-rich atmosphere, eliminating the need to bring additional resources.
The company has attracted investment from Hummingbird Ventures and Valhalla Ventures, and it aims to serve various customers ranging from small companies focused on water resources to larger spacecraft manufacturers. Starpath’s plans’ success depends on the availability of a commercial lunar Starship before 2028, as they need its payload capacity and customers. The company is focused on demonstrating the functionality of its full system in a terrestrial environment before space qualification. It aims to launch the mining and refinery system on a Starship to the moon’s south pole in 2026. Starpath estimates that it will require around $50 million in funding over the next few years and plans to expand its team of four employees to ten.