CisLunar Industries USA, Inc.¶
Type: Pre-commercial Startup (In-Space Manufacturing)
FO Projects:
- 158519 — Space Metal Processing System (SMPS), 2024-06-01 – 2025-05-31
- 184141 — Modular Configurable Electric Power Converter (MCEPC), 2025-04-01 – 2026-05-31
PI: Joseph Pawelski; Co-I: Elijah Richter
Outcome Category: Pre-commercial startup with active pipeline — ISS demo imminent; dual-FO arc
Downstream $: ~$5M tracked (NASA SBIR + AFRL + DARPA LunA-10)
MCEPC [184141] note (added Session 15): Second FO project — a >95% efficiency modular power processing unit (PPU) for ISAM/logistics in LEO, GEO, and cislunar space. 1 kW+ modular design. Period Apr 2025 – May 2026 (nearly complete at time of Session 15 write). PI: Joseph Pawelski (same PI as SMPS). Primary TX: TX03.3.3 Electrical Power Conversion and Regulation. Views: 1,335. No additional USASpending contracts found for MCEPC specifically.
What Was Tested¶
CisLunar's Space Metal Processing System (SMPS) / Modular Space Foundry (MSF) was parabolic-flight tested to support design and qualification of two subsystems ahead of an ISS National Lab flight experiment planned for 2025.
The MSF processes metal into rods, tubes, sheet metal, wire, metal propellant, and other products through: - Casting and continuous casting - Droplet printing - Electromagnetic levitation furnace (contactless metal melting — no container required)
The core technology uses electromagnetic levitation to melt metals without touching the container walls — critical in microgravity where buoyancy-driven convection is absent. This approach was originally proven on the ISS Electromagnetic Levitator (EML) experiment.
TX: TX12.4.6 — Recycle, Reuse, and Repurpose Processes
Technology Vision¶
CisLunar's commercial thesis: 1. Phase 1: Process metal feedstock (aluminum, other metals) on ISS/orbit into structural shapes and metal propellant 2. Phase 2: Robotically harvest metals from derelict satellites ("orbital junk as feedstock") using Astroscale (partner) 3. Phase 3: Lunar surface metal processing — ISRU from lunar regolith for construction and propellant
The SMPS is a more capable, higher-throughput version of the EML already on ISS, capable of producing useful shaped products rather than just research samples.
Key Achievements¶
May 2024: CisLunar successfully continuously cast a full aluminum sample rod in microgravity via parabolic flight. This is the core SMPS capability demonstrated — first reported positive result.
May 2024 "Space Heritage" claim: CisLunar cited ThinkOrbital's electron-beam welding in space (May 6, 2024) as a related milestone — adjacent technology in in-space metal processing, though not directly CisLunar hardware.
Patent: Patent-pending rotating seal / electromagnetic levitation foundry design.
PickNik Robotics partnership: CisLunar and PickNik (robotic manipulation software) collaborating on robotic in-space metal processing integration — addressing the manipulation side of harvesting derelict satellite material.
Contracts and Funding¶
| Source | Amount | Description | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFRL (SpaceWERX) | $1.90M | Space Sustainment and Maneuver — metal propellant for orbital operations | 2025–2027 |
| AFRL (SpaceWERX) | $1.70M | Propulsion Ecosystem Based on Recycled Metal Propellant (with Astroscale, Colorado State) | 2023–2024 |
| NASA SBIR Phase II | $1.17M | Micro Space Foundry for On-Orbit Recycling and Metal Materials Production | 2022–2025 |
| NASA SBIR Phase I | $125K | In-Space Recycling System Using Electromagnetic Levitation | 2021 |
| NASA Purchase | $60K | Aluminum extruder (equipment) | 2024 |
| Investment | $1M | Raised to scale production | July 2025 |
| DARPA LunA-10 | TBD | METAL framework study — 10-year lunar architecture | 2024 |
Total tracked: ~$6M (contracts) + $1M investment
Key strategic contracts: - The $1.70M + $1.90M AFRL contracts are for metal propellant from recycled materials — a DoD near-term application that creates near-term revenue before the civilian/commercial ISRU market matures. Aluminum powder is a viable solid propellant for small spacecraft maneuver. - DARPA LunA-10 (10-Year Lunar Architecture study) is a prestigious contract validating CisLunar as a credible player in long-term lunar infrastructure.
Session 53 Update — EPIC Pivot + Orbital Launch (Apr 2026)¶
SIGNIFICANT: Strategic Pivot to Power Electronics¶
CisLunar has pivoted its lead product from metal processing to power electronics. The company's public identity has shifted from "space foundry / metal processing" to "flight-proven power hardware and software for the space industrial economy." The MCEPC work from FO project [184141] evolved into the EPIC (Electric Power Intelligent Conversion) product line — now the company's lead commercial offering.
EPIC Orbital Launch — March 30, 2026¶
CisLunar's EPIC Power Processing Unit (PPU) for Hall thrusters launched on SpaceX Transporter-16 aboard Momentus' Vigoride 7 orbital service vehicle on March 30, 2026. The PPU converts DC from solar panels into configurable high-density AC current for electric propulsion. The mission is now in orbit conducting on-orbit demonstration.
- Contract managed by NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (Flight Opportunities program)
- Vigoride 7 carries 10 payloads total, including DARPA and SpaceWERX demos
This means FO project 184141 has achieved orbital flight demonstration — a significant milestone for a company that was at parabolic-flight stage just 2 years ago.
ISS SMPS Experiment: Appears Deprioritized¶
No evidence the ISS flight has occurred. The SMPS/Modular Space Foundry ISS National Lab experiment planned for 2025 was not confirmed in any press release, ISS manifest, or news article. CisLunar's 2025-2026 public communications focus entirely on EPIC power hardware, not metal processing. The silence is notable — the ISS SMPS experiment appears to have been deprioritized as the company pivoted toward power electronics as their near-term revenue product.
Funding: $2.6M Seed Round (March 2026)¶
- Lead: Colorado ONE Fund (initial $1M tranche announced July 2025)
- Participants: Stout Street Capital (joined Nov 2025), RIT Venture Fund, Deming Center Venture Fund, strategic angels
- Total raised to date: ~$4.08M (per PitchBook)
- Use of funds: Development and production expansion of EPIC power electronics product line
This is still a seed round, not a Series A, but 2.6× larger than the $1M previously tracked.
DARPA LunA-10: Study Completed, No Phase 2¶
LunA-10 study phase completed June 2024. CisLunar participated in the METAL (Material Extraction, Treatment, Assembly, and Logistics) framework as one of 14 funded companies. No Phase 2 has been publicly announced. Program manager Michael Nayak noted the study "uncovered how current foundational technologies and capabilities could stitch together into a self-sustaining lunar economy, and where there are gaps." The METAL framework appears to have been a study-phase deliverable without direct follow-on.
Partnership Status¶
- PickNik Robotics: No updates since November 2022 announcement. Partnership appears dormant given the pivot away from metal processing as lead product.
- Astroscale: No new updates on the $1.7M SpaceWERX propellant ecosystem work. Astroscale's Provisioner spacecraft is targeting 2026 launch for refueling demos, but no specific CisLunar tie-in announced.
Space Heritage Milestone¶
May 2024: CisLunar's first space heritage — ThinkOrbital operated an electron-beam welding system powered by CisLunar's 20kV power supply. This was the power supply (not the foundry hardware), which in retrospect was an early signal of the pivot toward power electronics.
Updated Contracts and Funding¶
| Source | Amount | Description | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFRL (SpaceWERX) | $1.90M | Interoperable modular power unit → became EPIC PPU on Vigoride 7 | 2025–2027 |
| AFRL (SpaceWERX) | $1.70M | Propulsion Ecosystem Based on Recycled Metal Propellant (with Astroscale, Colorado State, Neumann Space) | 2023–2024 |
| NASA SBIR Phase II | $1.17M | Micro Space Foundry for On-Orbit Recycling and Metal Materials Production | 2022–2025 |
| NASA SBIR Phase I | $125K | In-Space Recycling System Using Electromagnetic Levitation | 2021 |
| NASA Purchase | $60K | Aluminum extruder (equipment) | 2024 |
| Investment (Seed) | $2.6M | Colorado ONE Fund-led round (Mar 2026) | 2025–2026 |
| DARPA LunA-10 | TBD | METAL framework study — completed June 2024 | 2024 |
Total tracked: ~$7.6M (contracts + investment), up from ~$6M previously
Archetype Analysis (Revised)¶
CisLunar has undergone a classic startup pivot: entered with an ambitious vision (space metal foundry, debris recycling, lunar ISRU) and found that the nearer-term application (power electronics for satellite propulsion) has a clearer market. The pivot is reflected in: - Public messaging shift from "foundry" to "power hardware" - EPIC product line as lead offering - ISS SMPS experiment deprioritized - PickNik robotics partnership dormant - Seed round explicitly earmarked for EPIC production
This is Archetype 7 (SBIR Portfolio Company) behavior: use government R&D funding to explore multiple product lines, then double down on whichever reaches product-market fit first. The metal processing / ISRU vision may return later when the market matures, but the power electronics path provides near-term revenue.
Positive indicators: Orbital flight heritage earned (Mar 2026); $2.6M seed round closed; multiple government agencies still funding; clear product-market fit pivot.
Caution: Still pre-revenue (no commercial sales announced); seed-stage funding is modest for hardware; the metal processing vision that attracted FO funding may not be the actual business.
Confidence (Updated)¶
- FO parabolic tests preceded ISS flight experiment: confirmed (project description explicit)
- Aluminum rod cast in microgravity (2024): confirmed (press release)
- ISS National Lab flight experiment completed in 2025: unconfirmed → likely deprioritized (pivot to power electronics)
- EPIC PPU orbital demo launched March 30, 2026: confirmed (press release, EIN Presswire)
- $2.6M seed round (March 2026): confirmed (FinSMEs, BizWest)
- DARPA LunA-10 completed, no Phase 2: confirmed (DARPA program page)
- $1.7M SpaceWERX contract with Astroscale: confirmed (USASpending)
Links¶
- made-in-space.md — Made in Space/Redwire does comparable in-space manufacturing (3D printing, semiconductor thin-film, ZBLAN glass); they're the more mature path
- space-foundry.md — Space Foundry does plasma jet printing in microgravity (different process, similar in-space manufacturing thesis)
- solstar-space.md — also flew on Vigoride 7 (Transporter-16, March 30, 2026)
Investigated: Session 15 (2026-04-06). Last updated: Session 78 (2026-04-07) — Vigoride 7 on-orbit, solar arrays/telemetry nominal, no EPIC PPU results yet. Momentus survived ($5M Jan 2026 placement, V8 fully allocated). ISS SMPS still sidelined.
Session 78 Update (2026-04-07) — MINOR: On-Orbit Status Check¶
Vigoride 7 On-Orbit Status¶
Momentus confirmed successful Vigoride 7 deployment shortly after March 30 launch. Solar arrays deployed providing 1.6 kW; command uplink and telemetry downlink nominal. The EPIC PPU is one of 10 payloads operating on-orbit. No payload-specific performance results have been publicly reported yet — the mission is running a multi-month test campaign with real-time data flowing to Momentus mission operations. Nearest milestone: validation of power delivery performance for NASA ISAM objectives.
Momentus Financial Update¶
No bankruptcy filing through April 7, 2026. Key developments: - $5M private placement closed January 2026 (single institutional investor, 925,926 shares at ~$5.40/share) - Cash position: $670K at September 30, 2025 (pre-placement) - Going-concern language remains in annual filings - Shareholders blocked a 10M-share dilution request at special meeting - Vigoride 8 (2027) fully allocated to a U.S. government customer — provides revenue visibility - Market cap ~$9M (Feb 2026)
The 75% bankruptcy risk assessment from Session 53 should be revised to ~50% — still high risk but improving. The $5M placement and V8 government customer provide 12-18 months of runway. The company is distressed but executing.
No New CisLunar Contracts or Funding¶
No new awards beyond the $2.6M seed (March 2026) and existing NASA Flight Opportunities contract. The $1.7M SpaceWERX contract with Astroscale/CSU was previously tracked.
ISS SMPS: Still Sidelined¶
No evidence of ISS flight experiment advancement. Company public communications remain 100% focused on EPIC power electronics.