CisLunar Industries is a space technology company on a mission to enable a sustainable industrial revolution in space. Founded in 2018, the Denver-based startup is developing innovative solutions to address immediate challenges for industry and government entities, focusing on mitigating space debris, improving space mobility, securing space-based resources for future missions, and creating scalable power systems.
Vision and Mission
CisLunar Industries envisions a future where humanity is empowered to expand beyond Earth and permanently settle the solar system. The company believes that a dynamic and robust industrial in-space economy is essential to realizing this future. To that end, CisLunar Industries is creating the critical metal processing and power capabilities required to support the in-space industrial value chain.
The company’s mission is to process and provide critical metal materials to meet the needs of its customers, in space and on the surface of celestial bodies, anywhere in the solar system.
Leadership
CisLunar Industries boasts a diverse and experienced leadership team. Co-founder and CEO Gary Calnan, CFA, brings a wealth of financial expertise to the company. Co-founder and CTO Joe Pawelski, MEng, leads the technical development of the company’s innovative solutions. COO Lee Steinke, MSc, MBA, PG, oversees operations and strategic partnerships. Co-founder and Managing Director for Europe, Walter Schroeder, PhD, spearheads the company’s European expansion.
The company also benefits from the guidance of a distinguished advisory board and collaborates with industry and academic expert consultants from institutions such as Ball Aerospace, NASA, OffWorld, Near Earth LLC, and the Colorado School of Mines.
Products and Services
Modular Space Foundry (MSF)
CisLunar Industries’ flagship product is the Modular Space Foundry (MSF), an innovative engineering solution that enables the recycling of spent upper stages, satellites, and space debris, transforming otherwise dangerous material into feedstock for in-orbit manufacturing. The MSF technology takes recovered space debris and reprocesses it into standardized metal feedstock in the form of wire filament and other useful geometries for various applications, including metal propellant and in-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM).
The company has made significant progress in developing the MSF technology. As part of a NASA SBIR Phase-1 contract, CisLunar Industries rapidly prototyped and demonstrated control of melt levitation and heating, creating its first rod casting machine in just six months. In collaboration with partners, the company publicly demonstrated the capability to manufacture a rod, which was then successfully used to generate thrust in an electric thruster as fuel.
Under a NASA SBIR Phase-2 contract, CisLunar Industries rigorously tested its MSF prototype under microgravity conditions during a parabolic flight campaign.
The MSF technology has several potential applications, including:
- Metal Processing-as-a-Service (MPaaS): CisLunar Industries plans to offer MSF units to space stations, such as the International Space Station, to recycle metal waste on-station and produce metal feedstock for sale to manufacturing customers.
- JunkR Salvage Services: The company aims to provide storage, salvage, and recycling services for retired or inactive space assets, recycling space debris and end-of-life satellites at space stations to produce key materials for the emerging ISAM industry.
- Terrestrial Point-of-Need Processing: CisLunar Industries is developing small-scale induction furnaces (MeltR C-F) for in-space metal processing and small-batch terrestrial recycling and in-mine ingoting at the point of extraction. The company is also working on a small-scale magnetic manipulation device (MovR C-M) for in-space and terrestrial applications.
Modular Configurable Electric Power Converter (MCEPC)
CisLunar Industries has developed a family of PowR DC power converters that take electrical power from solar panels, batteries, nuclear, or thermoelectric generators and convert it into precise voltages, currents, and frequencies. The MCEPC subsystem, originally developed for the MSF, converts DC current from solar panels into highly configurable, high-density, high-frequency AC current.
The MCEPC technology has several potential applications, including:
- Electric Propulsion: The subsystem is being adapted for use as a Power Processing Unit (PPU) for electric propulsion, scalable to high power levels.
- Laser & Radio Communications: The MCEPC’s low physical volume and high power capabilities make it suitable for applications where space is limited.
Partnerships and Collaborations
CisLunar Industries actively collaborates with industry partners, government agencies, and academic institutions to advance its mission and develop innovative solutions for the space industry.
In February 2023, CisLunar Industries, along with partners Astroscale U.S., Colorado State University, and another yet-to-be-named entity, was awarded a $1.7 million Direct-to-Phase II SBIR contract by SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force (USSF). This collaboration project focuses on a circular propulsion ecosystem based on the ability to recycle metal in space to enable enhanced space mobility.
In December 2023, CisLunar Industries secured a contract with DARPA (The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) for the LunA-10 program. The company will facilitate the development of the METAL framework (Material Extraction, Treatment, Assembly & Logistics) in collaboration with 13 other visionary companies. The LunA-10 program aims to study the rapid development of non-terrestrial technology concepts designed to move away from self-sufficient systems and toward a series of shareable, scalable, resource-driven systems that can operate jointly, creating monetizable services for future lunar stakeholders.
CisLunar Industries has also partnered with PickNik Robotics to explore how PickNik’s MoveIt Space software for robotic arms can help with the precision feeding of the Modular Space Foundry. The collaboration aims to support the processing and removal of space debris by coordinating autonomous, modular robots in IVA (intravehicular activity) and EVA (extravehicular activity) applications.
Challenges and Opportunities
As CisLunar Industries works towards its vision of a sustainable space industrial revolution, the company faces several challenges and opportunities.
One of the primary challenges is the complex and evolving regulatory landscape surrounding space activities. As the space industry grows and becomes more commercialized, there is an increasing need for clear and consistent regulations to ensure the safe and responsible use of space resources. CisLunar Industries must navigate this regulatory environment while developing its technologies and services.
Another challenge is the high cost and risk associated with space operations. Launching payloads into space and operating in the harsh space environment requires significant financial investments and technical expertise. CisLunar Industries must continue to innovate and optimize its solutions to reduce costs and mitigate risks.
Summary
As the demand for in-space manufacturing and the need for sustainable space operations grow, CisLunar Industries is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in the emerging space economy. The company’s innovative solutions, such as the Modular Space Foundry and the Modular Configurable Electric Power Converter, have the potential to revolutionize the way we utilize and manage resources in space.
