Astrobotic, a firm creating lunar landers for NASA missions, acquired Masten Space Systems after the latter filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July. Astrobotic made a stalking horse bid of USD 4.5 million for Masten’s assets (including a SpaceX launch credit worth USD 14 million).

Masten's wide range of space technologies, including its vertical take-off and landing (VTVL) rocketry and propulsion test facilities, are included in the deal. The combined workforce post acquisition exceeded 200 employees, some of whom will stay on at Masten's headquarters in California. David Masten, the founder and CTO of Masten, is joining Astrobotic as the company's chief engineer.

In addition to continuing to build the Xogdor rocket (Masten’s newest rocket with supersonic speed), Astrobotic claimed it will continue suborbital flight operations at Masten's facility in Mojave. Astrobotic will also continue to operate Masten’s propulsion test stands. 

Analyst Quicktake: In its 18 years of operations Masten has completed over 600 VTVL rocket flights – the most number of landings in the industry according to the company. The company declared bankruptcy after its debts ballooned stemming from the USD 76 million NASA contract awarded to the company in 2020 to deliver science and technology payloads to the Moon ahead of crewed Artemis missions. Although this was a big win for the company at the time, the project eventually ran far over budget with unforeseen covid related expenses (as the company had to adjust assumptions on the technologies that had to be developed in-house, instead of purchasing, as suppliers were hesitant to commit due to the pandemic’s unpredictable environment), while the company struggled to raise funds or pay salaries. Astrobotic's ability to complete Masten Mission 1, the first lunar mission which is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, is yet unknown.