SpaceX has secured its first commercial cargo contract for the lunar surface, with startup Astrolab booking a spot on an uncrewed Starship cargo mission that could launch as early as mid-2026. Astrolab is developing the Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) rover, an SUV-sized vehicle intended to transport equipment, supplies, and people across the Moon’s surface.
Approximately the size of a Jeep Wrangler, the FLEX rover is larger than NASA’s Perseverance rover on Mars. It features a robotic arm for cargo assistance and can reach speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. Additionally, the rover can accommodate up to two astronauts. Once on the Moon, FLEX will be the largest rover to traverse the lunar surface.
Astrolab already has customers lined up to use the rover for cargo transportation during the 2026 Starship mission. CEO Jaret Matthews envisions the FLEX rover playing a significant role in establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon and beyond.
“Ultimately our goal is to have a fleet of rovers both on the Moon and Mars,” he said, adding that he sees these vehicles as catalysts for the off-Earth economy.
