Lunar PlanetVac (LPV)

Blue Ghost Mission 1 · landed · NASA payload

A pneumatic sampler: a 'vacuum cleaner that brings its own gas'. On the lander's arm, a burst of compressed nitrogen in the sampling head lofts regolith up a hose. The sample lands in a container on the lander deck, where it is sieved by size and photographed. Dust-adhesion coupons sit on the container wall.

PI: Kris Zacny (Honeybee Robotics)
Built by: Honeybee Robotics (Altadena, California), now a Blue Origin company; NASA Marshall managed the payload for CLPS (company)

Technology	regolith sampler (pneumatic sample acquisition and transfer)
Moon Base need	#0605, DN-008 L, DN-010 L (The study's reading. NASA's payload manager ties LPV to resource prospecting and to knowing the materials for habitats and launch pads, but no gap names it. LPV demonstrated small-scale pneumatic regolith collection and transport (#0605) and returned size-sorted samples and images (inputs to DN-008 L particle sizes and to sample-based DN-010 L work). It sampled mare regolith, not South Pole highland regolith.)
Route onto CLPS	LSITP; Lunar Surface Instrument and Technology Payloads: one of 12 payloads NASA selected on 1 July 2019 (release 19-053). NASA Marshall signed the development contract on 19 Nov 2019. Assigned to Firefly's TO 19D (NASA's award of 4 Feb 2021, release 21-012). FO's FY2019 report says FO's flight tests helped it be selected.; 2019-07-01
Timeline	first funding 2007 (NASA SBIR Phase I on pneumatic regolith mining); first flight test before 2017 (zero-g aircraft, date not given); first FO flight 2018-05-24 (Xodiac); selected 2019-07-01 (LSITP); contract signed 2019-11-19; on TO 19D from 2021-02-04; launch 2025-01-15; landing 2025-03-02
On the Moon	operated as planned
FO	tested

Flights before the Moon

• aircraft (not FO): Zero-g airplane (reduced-gravity parabolic flight), with a vacuum chamber at lunar gravity, before 2017 (not given in the source). A scaled pneumatic system lofting lunar simulant at 1/6 g in vacuum: 1 g of nitrogen lofted about 6,000 g of JSC-1a. Who paid for the flight, and when, is not in the source; it predates FO's 2017 project.

"The pneumatic system has been tested in a vacuum chamber at 1/6th G (on zero-g airplane)"
— TechPort project 89413, description, Technology Maturation

• FO: Masten Space Systems (now Astrobotic) Xodiac rocket-powered lander, Mojave, California (FO technology T0179, TechPort 89413), 2018-05-24. A full-scale PlanetVac footpad sampler: take off, land on the desert floor, collect a sample into an onboard container, and fly again. It collected more than 320 g of topsoil and survived landing, heating and the rocket environment. FO funded the flight.

"flight tested its pneumatic sampler collection system, PlanetVac, on Masten Space Systems’ Xodiac rocket on May 24, launching from Mojave, California"
— Sample Return Technology Successfully Tested on Xodiac Rocket - NASA, paragraph 1 (NASA Armstrong, 13 Jun 2018)

"Flight Opportunities program funded the test flight."
— Sample Return Technology Successfully Tested on Xodiac Rocket - NASA, paragraph 2

"This reduces the risk since we now know it can survive both landing and heating loads as well as the rocket environment"
— Sample Return Technology Successfully Tested on Xodiac Rocket - NASA, Justin Spring (Honeybee) quote

• FO: Masten Xodiac, Mojave (FO technologies T0226 and T0253, TechPort 106599 and 106671), 2020-11-12. PlanetVac with the sample container mounted on top of the lander, as on a real mission, plus sorting; and, in a companion test, a diffuser screen and a new regolith simulant to see how plume scouring and heat affect sample collection.

"For this test, the container will be mounted on top of the lander, where instruments or sample return containers would naturally be located."
— TechPort project 106599, description

"Masten will install a diffuser screen to better understand how plume scouring and thermal effects of the vertical takeoff and vertical landing vehicle affect sample collection."
— TechPort project 106671, description

Data: date: Nov. 12, 2020
— FO annual report, FY2021, flights of TechPort project 106671 (p. 8, Xodiac, Masten Space Systems)

• FO: Masten Xodiac, Mojave: the rest of FO's five PlanetVac flights, 2018-2020, 2018-2020 (not dated in the sources used here). FO counts five Xodiac flights for PlanetVac in all, collecting more than 220 g of simulated regolith. Only two are dated in the sources here; there is no FY2018 FO report in the repo.

"During flight tests on Xodiac — an Astrobotic vertical takeoff vertical landing vehicle — PlanetVac successfully collected more than 220 grams of simulated regolith."
— From Flight Test to the Moon: A Tale of Three Payloads

"2018 to 2020"
— From Flight Test to the Moon: A Tale of Three Payloads, (Flight Testing); gives 5 flights

Heritage hardware

• design heritage (own prototypes): About ten years of Honeybee pneumatic sampling work before FO: vacuum-chamber tests, a scaled model in a large vacuum chamber, and the zero-g flight above. TRL 4 when FO's first project began (2017), TRL 5 by the 2019-2020 project, TRL 9 after the Moon by the team's account.

"The PlanetVac technology has been steadily climbing up the TRL ladder and it is now at TRL4."
— TechPort project 89413, description

"brings PlanetVac to TRL 9"
— Zacny et al., PlanetVac Sample Acquisition and Delivery Demonstration on Blue Ghost, 57th LPSC (2…, Introduction

• sister product (not flown before BGM1): Honeybee's Pneumatic Sampler (P-Sampler) for JAXA's Martian Moons eXploration mission uses the same approach; NASA contracts for it were signed in 2019. MMX had not flown when Blue Ghost landed, so this is shared design work, not an earlier flight.

"PNEUMATIC SAMPLER (P-SAMPLER) JAXA MARTIAN MOONS EXPLORATION (MMX) MISSION"
— USAspending.gov, award 80NSSC19C0629, description; amount 499978.0, 2019-09-10 to 2019-12-09

"Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Phobos sample return mission (infused)"
— TechPort project 106599, benefits, Future Customers

Funding before the lunar flight

• NASA SBIR Phase I to Honeybee Robotics, 'Pneumatic Excavation Mechanism for Lunar Resource Utilization' (067388 / NNK07MA31C): gas-driven mining of the top few centimeters of regolith, the concept behind PlanetVac. Linked by company (UEI F7UHKQTEYHW8, DUNS 131364820 as in FO's TechPort record), PI and technology; the abstracts do not use the name PlanetVac. (NASA SBIR; 2007): $99,851

"investigate a method for mining the top few centimeters of lunar regolith with a gas system that has no moving parts"
— SBIR.gov award data, award 067388, Phase I abstract; NNK07MA31C, award amount 99851.0

• NASA SBIR Phase II, same title and tracking number (067388 / NNK08EA32C): a prototype pneumatic excavator and regolith transfer. Linked by company (UEI F7UHKQTEYHW8, DUNS 131364820 as in FO's TechPort record), PI and technology; the abstracts do not use the name PlanetVac. (NASA SBIR; 2008-2010): $599,669

"We propose to develop a prototype excavator for mining the top few centimeters to meter (via strip mining) of lunar regolith using pneumatics"
— SBIR.gov award data, award 067388, Phase II abstract; NNK08EA32C, award amount 599669.0

• NASA SBIR Phase I to Honeybee Robotics, 'Planetary Vacuum Cleaner for Venus and Mars' (156544 / NNX16CP23P). Same PI and vacuum-cleaner concept, aimed at Venus; FO's 2017 record lists an 'SBIR Phase I (2016)'. Linked by company, PI and technology. (NASA SBIR; 2016): $123,628

"The system will be akin to conventional vacuum cleaners on Earth, but adapted for Venus conditions."
— SBIR.gov award data, award 156544, abstract; NNX16CP23P, award amount 123628.0

"SBIR Phase I (2016)"
— TechPort project 89413, description

• An 'SBIR Phase 3' funded by The Planetary Society, plus NASA Spacetech REDDI and support from Kennedy's Swamp Works, by Honeybee's and FO's accounts. Amounts not public. (The Planetary Society; NASA STMD (REDDI); NASA Kennedy; about 2007-2017): amount not in public sources

"funded via SBIR Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 (funding provided by the Planetary Society)"
— TechPort project 89413, description

"The technology has been initially funded via NASA SBIR, Spacetech REDDI, and The Planetary Society."
— Honeybee Selected to Send Two Payloads to the Moon – Honeybee Robotics

• LSITP development contract from NASA Marshall to Honeybee Robotics (80MSFC20C0007), the flight unit. Linked by its description, which repeats NASA's 2019 description of PlanetVac, and by date and office (signed two days before LISTER's LSITP contract, also at Marshall). The recipient is Honeybee Robotics LLC (UEI Q66XJ43E51L7), after novations. (SMD LSITP; 2019-11-19 to 2025-09-30): $6,305,075

"THE CONTRACTOR SHALL DEVELOP TECHNOLOGY FOR ACQUIRING AND TRANSFERRING REGOLITH FROM THE LUNAR SURFACE TO INSTRUMENTS AND SAMPLE RETURN CONTAINERS"
— USAspending.gov, award 80MSFC20C0007, description; obligated 6305075.0

"PlanetVac is funded under NASA Lunar Surface Instrument and Technology Payloads (LSITP) program."
— Zacny et al., PlanetVac Sample Acquisition and Delivery Demonstration on Blue Ghost, 57th LPSC (2…, Acknowledgments

How it got onto CLPS

"PlanetVac is a technology for acquiring and transferring lunar regolith from the surface to other instruments that would analyze the material"
— NASA Selects 12 New Lunar Science, Technology Investigations - NASA, release 19-053, 1 Jul 2019

"PlanetVac has been selected as part of the NASA Lunar Surface Instrument and Technology Payloads (LSITP) program"
— NTRS 20240000672, page 2 (LPSC 2024 abstract)

"THE CONTRACTOR SHALL DEVELOP TECHNOLOGY FOR ACQUIRING AND TRANSFERRING REGOLITH FROM THE LUNAR SURFACE TO INSTRUMENTS AND SAMPLE RETURN CONTAINERS"
— USAspending.gov, award 80MSFC20C0007, description; signed 2019-11-19, NASA Marshall

"helped the technology be selected for Artemis as part of a CLPS mission"
— nasa.gov: dr-fop-pub-anr-19-accomp-report-online.pdf, FY2019 report p. 5 caption

"NASA has awarded Firefly Aerospace of Cedar Park, Texas, approximately $93.3 million to deliver a suite of 10 science investigations and technology demonstrations to the Moon in 2023."
— NASA Selects Firefly Aerospace for Artemis Commercial Moon Delivery in 2023 - NASA, release 21-012, 4 Feb 2021

On the Moon

On 3 March 2025 LPV collected about 6.5 cc of regolith in five seconds, above its 1 cc requirement, then sieved it at 1 mm and imaged it and its dust coupons. Video suggests the sampling head was angled or not touching the surface, so it worked from an off-nominal position. As a bonus, the gas cleared dust from camera lenses. NASA reports it 'successfully collected, transferred, and sorted lunar soil'.

"was deployed on the lander’s surface access arm and successfully collected, transferred, and sorted lunar soil using pressurized nitrogen gas"
— NASA Science Continues After Firefly’s First Moon Mission Concludes - NASA

"early conclusions from the sampling event indicate a collection of ~6.5 cc of regolith. This exceeded the requirement of 1 cc of collected material."
— Zacny et al., PlanetVac Sample Acquisition and Delivery Demonstration on Blue Ghost, 57th LPSC (2…, Results

"the PlanetVac sampling hood was not flush with the surface"
— Zacny et al., PlanetVac Sample Acquisition and Delivery Demonstration on Blue Ghost, 57th LPSC (2…, Results

FO's role

Grade: tested. Grade unchanged (tested): FO flew this instrument line, by the same team, on a rocket-powered lander before the Moon. The 2018 flight showed PlanetVac 'can survive both landing and heating loads as well as the rocket environment and still collect the sample' (Honeybee's engineer). The 2020 flights moved the sample container to the top of the lander, as on a lunar mission, and studied plume scouring with a diffuser screen and a new simulant. FO says the tests 'helped the technology be selected for Artemis' (FY2019 report). Of PlanetVac's flights before the Moon, FO's Xodiac flights are the only ones on a lander; an earlier zero-g aircraft test is not known to be FO's. Retroactive in part: the 2018 flights came before the July 2019 selection; the 2020 flights were flown with a lunar mission in view.

FO flights: 5. FO bought the Xodiac flights (FO's count: five, 2018-2020); their cost per payload is in FO records, not in public sources.

"Tests showed PlanetVac could survive launch/landing and successfully capture and deliver regolith samples, proving its worthiness for a lunar mission."
— From Flight Test to the Moon: A Tale of Three Payloads

"The device’s ability to quickly and efficiently gather regolith was well demonstrated on flights facilitated by Flight Opportunities."
— nasa.gov: dr-fop-pub-anr-19-accomp-report-online.pdf, FY2019 report p. 5

"The Lunar PlanetVac instrument, developed by Honeybee Robotics and tested through Flight"
— nasa.gov: fy25-flight-opportunities-accomplishments-report.pdf, FY2025 report p. 3 caption

"This work is a continuation of previous flight testing under T0179 and relates to T0226."
— TechPort project 106671, description

Who built it

"Lead Development Organization: Honeybee Robotics"
— TO19D Science Payloads - NASA Science

"Payload PI: Dr. Kris Zacny"
— TO19D Science Payloads - NASA Science

"Developed by Honeybee Robotics, a Blue Origin company of Altadena, California, LPV is a pneumatic, compressed gas-powered sample acquisition and delivery system"
— NASA Lander to Test Vacuum Cleaner on Moon for Sample Collection - NASA, paragraph 4

Moon Base need

"The technology on this CLPS payload could benefit the search for water, helium, and other resources and provide a clearer picture of in situ materials available to NASA and its partners for fabricating lunar habitats and launch pads"
— NASA Lander to Test Vacuum Cleaner on Moon for Sample Collection - NASA, Dennis Harris (NASA Marshall) quote

"ESDMD #0605: Lunar Regolith Excavation, Manipulation, and Transportation"
— Moon to Mars knowledge base: ESDMD #0605: Lunar Regolith Excavation, Manipulation, and Transportation, title

"Particle size distribution (<10μm), particle morphology and density"
— Moon to Mars knowledge base: DN-008 L: Geotechnical properties of highland regolith at the lunar south pole, Target measurement parameters

Open questions

• Dates of the three undated FO Xodiac flights (2018-2020): FO records (no FY2018 report in the repo).
• The zero-g aircraft test at 1/6 g: when, on which aircraft and program, and who paid? Not in public sources used here.
• What FO paid for the Xodiac flights: FO records.
• What did The Planetary Society's 'SBIR Phase 3' and Spacetech REDDI give? Not in public sources.
• Honeybee also held an uncompeted NASA contract titled 'Pneumatic Excavation Mechanism for Lunar Resource Utilization' (80NSSC20C0017, 2020-2022, $5.78 million), the same title as its 2007 SBIR. Did any of it fund PlanetVac? Its record does not say.