Independence (Lonestar lunar data center test)

IM-1 · landed · commercial payload

A software-only 'virtual payload' from Lonestar Data Holdings, run on the lander's own systems. It tested storing data on the lander and sending it to and from Earth, as a first step toward data storage on the Moon for disaster recovery. It had no hardware of its own.

PI: not in public sources (CEO Chris Stott speaks for the payload)
Built by: Lonestar Data Holdings (St. Petersburg, Florida), with Intuitive Machines; customer: the State of Florida, through Space Florida (company)

Technology	data storage and transfer test (software only)
Moon Base need	none named (No Moon Base need fits, on the study's reading. Lonestar's aim is data storage for customers on Earth. The Users Guide has no group for data systems: the ADD's Data Systems and Management sub-architecture is one of five with no Moon Base group.)
Route onto CLPS	commercial; Lonestar contracted Intuitive Machines to test data transfer and storage on IM-1, announced 19 April 2022, alongside a hardware payload for IM-2. Not a NASA payload.; 2022-04-19
Timeline	first funding 2021 (Lonestar founded; private funding); first flight test 2021-12-17 (software test on the ISS); selected 2022-04-19 (contract with Intuitive Machines announced); launch 2024-02-15; landing 2024-02-22
On the Moon	operated as planned
FO	none

Flights before the Moon

• ISS or MISSE: International Space Station: Redwire's existing server, retasked by software (with Canonical), 2021-12-17. Lonestar's first software-defined payload: an Ubuntu virtual machine on an ISS server stored data and sent results to Earth. The same software-only approach went to IM-1.

"The first software defined payload was sent to the ISS December 17th 2021."
— Lonestar brings the edge of the cloud to space via software-defined payload at the ISS

"In December 2021, Lonestar said it worked with British software company Canonical and U.S.-based space technology consolidator Redwire to successfully test its edge data center from the International Space Station."
— Lonestar emerges from stealth with plans for lunar data centers - SpaceNews

Funding before the lunar flight

• Private investors. No NASA, SBIR or other federal award to Lonestar Data Holdings found. (private (Scout Ventures, Seldor Capital, 2 Future Holding); by 2022): amount not in public sources

"Lonestar has fully funded its IM-1 and IM-2-enabled demos with the backing of early-stage investors Scout Ventures, Seldor Capital and 2 Future Holding"
— Lonestar emerges from stealth with plans for lunar data centers - SpaceNews

How it got onto CLPS

"Lonestar said it has also signed a contract with Intuitive Machines to test data transfer and storage capabilities during the lander developer's first mission, IM-1"
— Lonestar emerges from stealth with plans for lunar data centers - SpaceNews

On the Moon

By Lonestar's account, the test worked in transit (19 February), in lunar orbit and from the surface: the Declaration of Independence went from Earth to the Moon, and a copy of the Constitution and Bill of Rights came back, with data stored for the State of Florida. Lonestar says all its mission objectives were met. These are company statements; no technical data is published.

"On Feb. 19, the payload transmitted and received data from the Odysseus spacecraft"
— Lonestar Data Holdings Performs Data Demo in Cislunar Space

"This included the transmission of the Declaration of Independence from Earth to the Moon and the receipt back from the Moon of a copy of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights"
— Lonestar Data Holdings Independence Payload Makes History with Successful Test Of Data Storage Co…, 28 Feb 2024

"The successful accomplishment of all of Lonestar's commercial mission objectives"
— Lonestar Data Holdings Independence Payload Makes History with Successful Test Of Data Storage Co…

FO's role

Grade: none. No FO flight of Lonestar's own technology. FO's link to Lonestar comes later and through another company: the FO-tested ARMAS radiation monitor (Space Environment Technologies) flew inside Lonestar's Freedom payload on IM-2 in 2025. That does not touch Independence, which was software on IM-1.

"the goal of the lightweight ARMAS sensor was to measure radiation both en route to the Moon and on the lunar surface as part of the Freedom payload from Lonestar Data Holdings"
— Flight-Tested Technologies for Safety in Space Head to the Moon, FO's IM-2 page

Who built it

"These tests will use a software-only "virtual payload.""
— Lonestar emerges from stealth with plans for lunar data centers - SpaceNews, SpaceNews, 19 Apr 2022

"Lonestar Data Holdings Inc. is thrilled to announce the successful launch of its pioneering lunar data center test mission"
— Lonestar marks the successful Launch of its first Lunar Data Center Test Mission, "Independence",…, 18 Feb 2024

Moon Base need

"Five ADD sub-architectures have no group:** Data Systems and Management"
— Moon to Mars knowledge base: What the architecture says the Moon Base needs

Open questions

• What did the test measure (data volume, error rates, latency)? Lonestar has published no technical results.
• What did Lonestar pay Intuitive Machines for the IM-1 test? Not in public sources.