Progress on the Mini-GRU reactor continues as the team refines simulations and system architecture for lunar oxygen generation.
We’re thrilled to share that Aster has been awarded an Illinois Innovation Grant, a three-way partnership between Aster, the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition, and Northwestern University. Backed by the Illinois General Assembly and Governor Pritzker, this initiative accelerates our collaboration with Northwestern’s laboratories and expertise as we assemble and validate our in-situ Gas Refinement Unit (GRU), an oxygen-production system for the lunar surface. A proud moment for our team - and a meaningful step toward enabling a sustainable human foothold beyond our home planet.
We have completed system setup and begun initial qualification testing. Early results demonstrate that the system can achieve near–space-vacuum conditions and reliably detect gas species. With these core capabilities established, we are preparing for an expanded testing campaign aimed at oxygen production.
