FLIP rover
A test rover that uses the same wheels, battery and electronics as Astrolab's larger rovers. It is set to land at the Moon's south pole on Astrobotic's Griffin-1 in late 2026.
Why it matters
FLIP will be the first chance to prove Astrolab's rover hardware on the Moon before it builds a crewed vehicle for NASA. It also carries paying payloads, including an Interlune camera that looks for signs of helium-3.
How the technology works
FLIP, short for FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform, is a smaller rover of nearly half a tonne that shares wheels, batteries and other components with the larger FLEX rover. It took the space on Griffin-1 that NASA's VIPER rover held before VIPER was canceled.
It will roll off the lander near the south pole and carry NASA and commercial instruments.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction