Lunar Outpost to Launch First Mission to Explore the Moon’s Surface, Advancing a Sustainable Human Presence in Space

​Type One Ventures portfolio company, Lunar Outpost, is preparing to make history with the launch of Lunar Voyage 1 (LV1)—its first mission to the Moon—scheduled for no earlier than February 26, 2025. The mission will deliver the MAPP (Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform) rover to the Moon’s South Pole, a region critical for future lunar infrastructure and sustainability.

LV1 is packed with historic firsts:

• First commercial rover on another planetary body
• First rover at the lunar South Pole
• First American robotic rover on the Moon
• First commercial sale of space resources (to NASA)
• First cellular network on the Moon via Nokia’s Lunar Surface Communications System

The MAPP rover, carrying scientific payloads from MIT and other global partners, will collect lunar regolith and transmit data back to Earth—ushering in a new era of commercial space activity. Partners include:

• NASA, buying the first lunar material from a private company
• Nokia, enabling lunar 4G communications
• MIT, with advanced mapping and robotics tech
• Castrol, providing space-grade lubricants
• LunarCrush, launching a treasure hunt with crypto and NFTs
• Juventus and adidas, becoming the first sports brands to join a lunar mission

CEO Justin Cyrus highlights the mission's goal: to prove private industry can create sustainable value on the Moon and help establish a cislunar economy—a vital step toward permanent human presence beyond Earth.

Lunar Voyage 1 isn’t just about going to the Moon—it’s about building the economy to stay there.