NASA JPL Testing Readies Voyager Technologies Lander for Moon Mission

Voyager Technologies’ Griffin‑1 lunar lander has finished a battery of environmental tests at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, clearing the final hurdle before a planned launch later this year. The tests, conducted in JPL’s historic 25‑Foot Space Simulator, exposed the 2,789‑pound craft to the vacuum of space, extreme temperatures, vibration, and acoustic noise that mimic a rocket launch.

During the campaign, Griffin‑1 was spun on a special table to measure its mass properties, ensuring it will navigate correctly in flight. It then endured vibration tests on a shaker table, electromagnetic interference checks in an anechoic chamber, and acoustic blasts up to 153 decibels. Thermal cycling alternated between 167 °F and –148 °F to simulate the Moon’s harsh environment.

The lander will carry more than 1,100 pounds of cargo, including 10 science and technology demonstrations from six countries and the FLIP rover, the largest commercial payload ever sent to the Moon. The successful tests confirm Griffin‑1’s readiness for the deep‑space journey and its role as an infrastructure‑class vehicle under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, a key step toward establishing a lunar outpost.

After testing, the lander returns to Voyager’s Pittsburgh facility for final assembly, then will undergo launch‑readiness operations before shipment to Cape