@endeffector
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CEO / founder of @astrolab_space | Formerly SpaceX & JPL
Los Angeles, CA
Joined March 2009
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On a @Delta flight and they are playing a piano concerto of Sweet Child O' Mine. I feel personally attacked.
Relieved to see FLIP make it through thermal vacuum testing and grateful to all those at @Astrolab_Space who worked around the clock to prepare and execute this test. This is the same chamber we used to qualify the Dragon docking system when I was at @SpaceX . This 15ft diameter chamber, located El Segundo's Smoky Hollow, has played an important role for many historically important spacecraft and systems over the decades, but I believe this is the first Moon rover to pass through there. Thanks to @ElementTesting for supporting.
Jaret Matthews retweeted
With FLIP rover vibration testing completed successfully last month, let's dive into the results.
The sounds you are hearing in the background of this video were designed from live sounds captured during the week and a half of vibe testing. During these tests the rover was subjected to the highest structural loads and most stressful vibration environment it will ever experience. Launch will be less stressful than what it has already survived. Health checks during and after testing show that FLIP came out the other side in pristine condition.
Before tests like this, the engineering team makes approximations about what the hardware can handle. Now that they have accelerometer data, the team is correlating the structural model with the data from the test. This will allow the engineers to conduct the final round of structural analysis to certify the rover for launch.
One more step towards the launch pad and lunar surface.
Jaret Matthews retweeted
FLIP Rover Vibration Testing: Complete
Full analysis of the data to come, but all initial indications from the test are positive. Another major hurdle on the path to the launch cleared.
Jaret Matthews retweeted
Mass properties testing.
Center of gravity and moments of inertia confirmed at @elementdefense. The kind of data that doesn’t make headlines, until it does.
One more milestone closer to launch.
"...SpaceX can’t build all of it alone. The people who build the lunar Alcoa, the lunar Caterpillar, and the lunar Union Pacific will be among the titans of the twenty-first century." This is what @Astrolab_Space is all about.
Jaret Matthews retweeted
A year and a half ago our FLIP rover was just an idea for a tech demo. This past week, it deployed its solar panel for the first time. The tight timeline for FLIP has put our team to the test but also proved we can build and deliver space-ready hardware.
Jaret Matthews retweeted
Say cheese!📸
Our FLIP rover is ready to snap pics on its lunar trip! The rover has two solar panel mast-mounted cameras provided by Canadensys, providing 360 views. This picture of our team was taken by one of those cameras after the first vehicle-controlled solar array deploy.
Congratulations to @NASA and the Artemis II crew on the successful lunar flyby today and for setting a new distance record for humanity! And thank you to NASA for the invitation to watch the launch up close last week with my family. We even made a cameo in the highlight reel below! It was incredible to witness history being made as we return to the Moon, this time to stay. Wishing the crew a safe return to Earth in the coming days.
We are going!
With Artemis II's launch, we've taken another step toward a long-term presence on the Moon. Here's a recap of the historic mission so far – and a preview of what's to come.
Follow along as four astronauts continue their journey around the Moon and back: nasa.gov/ways-to-watch/
Incredible leadership from @NASAAdmin : it's time to build a Moon base and @Astrolab_Space is ready to help!
To build a sustained human presence on the Moon, we are building @NASAMoonBase, prioritizing surface operations and scalable infrastructure.
- Frequent robotic landings and mobility testing including MoonFall drones
- Starting in 2027 nearly monthly cadence of equipment and rovers with scientific payloads landing on the Moon.
- Investments in power, communications, and surface mobility
- Scalable infrastructure to support long-term human presence
The objective is clear: build the foundation for an enduring lunar base and take the next step toward Mars.
Thanks to @NASA for the invite to their Ignition event at NASA Headquarters today sharing how they are accelerating America’s return to the surface of the Moon. We’re proud that our FLEX rover is positioned to support the next era of lunar exploration, from the establishment of a Moon base to constructing infrastructure to power the lunar economy.
Jaret Matthews retweeted
Our FLEX rover is designed to fly on and work alongside a variety of lunar landers, such as Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1. FLEX is the last mile lunar delivery solution, ready to work on cargo operations, handling payloads brought by landers to the lunar surface.
Today is the anniversary of Day-1 of @Astrolab_Space : January 6, 2020
@rdbilling and I set out to build a rover that will enable humanity’s multi-planet future from a cozy 10’ x 10’ shared office space.
6 years later: more than 100 people are a part of Astrolab, we’re an official contractor for @NASAArtemis program, and we're flying our first rover to the Moon this year.
Can’t wait to see what we accomplish in the next 6 years!
Jaret Matthews retweeted
Thanks to @CBSMornings for the feature on FLEX this morning and coming out for a rover test drive!
NASA astronauts took their first drive on the moon 54 years ago. Now, three companies are competing for a NASA contract to build a new lunar rover for use starting with the Artemis 5 mission in 2030. cbsn.ws/3L45MRQ
It was an honor to congratulate @rookisaacman in person yesterday, shortly after he was sworn in as @NASAAdmin. The team at @Astrolab_Space and I are looking forward to working with him in shaping the future of the lunar economy.
Great article about my time working on the docking system at SpaceX.
First excerpt from my book Rocket Dreams, which is out tomorrow. SpaceX built a docking prototype from bike parts. The story explains its dominance. wapo.st/4n4n8eY
Jaret Matthews retweeted
From sandbox to lunar surface🌔Here’s how our FLIP rover’s successful egress tests on Earth translate to what it will do on the Moon.
This test featured tilted ramps for teams to test different landing orientations to ensure we can successfully egress under many conditions.
Jaret Matthews retweeted
Egress test successful! Last week our FLIP test vehicle passed a major test: dismounting from our test fixture which replicates the dismount the rover will make from the Griffin lander onto the lunar surface.
This egress involves a controlled descent down a steep ramp, and a transfer to the Moon. The tether system wrapped around the rover’s rear wheels worked as intended to enable a clean dismount for the test vehicle.
Our FLIP rover serves as a technology demonstration mission, testing out the hardware and software that will power our FLEX rover on the Moon during future missions.