Startup · United States
Lonestar sells off-planet data storage and has flown small storage payloads on the ISS and two lunar landers; its LEO StarVault service rides on Sidus Space satellites. It always flies as a rider, and its dates have followed host delays: StarVault moved from October 2026 to no earlier than April 2027.
Shared launches: IM-2 (2025-02-26) with Spacebilt.
Stage 4 of 7: Payload demo flown
Its Freedom storage payload flew on Intuitive Machines IM-2, launched 26 Feb 2025; the lander tipped over after landing.[1]
What the stage means: Compute or storage flown as a hosted payload or on the ISS.
DoneReported
First software-defined payload test on the ISS
Ran an Ubuntu VM on an existing ISS server.
Source: Satellite Evolution
DoneConfirmed
$5M seed
Led by Scout Ventures.
Sources: The Register; SpaceNews; PR Newswire
DoneConfirmed
IM-2 lunar data center payload promised for October 2023
It launched on IM-2 on 26 Feb 2025, about 16 months later; the host lander set the date.
Source: The Register
DoneCompany claim
Independence payload: data storage test from the lunar surface (IM-1)
Launched 15 Feb 2024 on Odysseus; store-and-return test after landing.
Source: PR Newswire
DoneConfirmed
Freedom payload launched on IM-2 Athena
8 TB storage payload on Falcon 9.
Sources: PR Newswire; Wikipedia
DoneCompany claim
In-transit storage and edge-processing tests completed
Company says tests ran en route to the Moon.
Source: PR Newswire
FailedConfirmed
Athena landed on its side; lander operations ended less than 13 hours after landing
Lonestar said its payload was intact; no surface data operations confirmed.
Sources: Wikipedia; FOX 13 Tampa Bay
DoneConfirmed
Sidus Space preliminary agreement, about $120M, for six lunar data storage spacecraft
Preliminary agreement, not a firm order.
Source: Sidus Space
DoneReported
$6.6M seed-plus round; Stephen Eisele named CEO
Founder Chris Stott became executive chairman.
DoneCompany claim
StarVault storage service announced; second Sidus payload ordered
First payload then set for October 2026 on LizzieSat-4.
Sources: PR Newswire; Via Satellite
DoneConfirmed
NASA Ames Space Act Agreement
Framework for lunar storage, off-world compute and spectrum; no funds disclosed.
Source: PR Newswire
SlippedConfirmed
LizzieSat-4 (carrying the first StarVault payload) moved to NET April 2027
Sidus moved LS-4 to SpaceX Bandwagon-6.
Source: PR Newswire
Targets as the organisation stated them. When a date moved, every move is listed with its source; a narrower window is shown as a narrowing.
NET April 2027Slipped once
First StarVault storage payload on Sidus LizzieSat-4 (Bandwagon-6)[1]
Moved: October 2026 to NET April 2027[1]
2027
Second StarVault payload[1]
2027 (Sidus, April 2025; at risk, agreement preliminary)
First multi-petabyte storage spacecraft at Earth-Moon L1[1]
What to watch · SpaceNexus note, not a prediction
Whether LizzieSat-4 launches with the first StarVault payload in or after April 2027.
Dated promises with two sources for the promise and the outcome. No grades or ratings.
| Step | Promised | Outcome | Moved by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunar data center payload on IM-2 | October 2023, said 7 Mar 2023[1] | Launched 26 Feb 2025 (local time)[1] | 16 to 17 months |
| First StarVault payload | October 2026, said 15 Apr 2026[1] | Now no earlier than April 2027 (stated 28 Sep 2026)[1] | 6 months or more |
| Figure | Value | Confidence and source |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom storage | 8 TB | Reported[1] |
| Sidus agreement value (preliminary) | $120M | Confirmed[1] |
Rounds come from company announcements, regulatory filings and press reports. Amounts, valuations and investors are as reported and may be incomplete or later revised. Not investment advice, and not an offer or solicitation for any security. Full disclaimer
| Date | Round | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar 2023 | Seed. Led by Scout VenturesCounted in the tracker total.[1][2] | $5M |
| 18 Oct 2023 | Pre-Series A. Led by existing and new investorsSingle source.Not in the tracker total: single source.[1] | $825K |
| 14 Jan 2026 | Seed-plus. Led by Atypical Ventures, The Veteran FundSecond source is a local innovation-district blog; kept out of the core total.Not in the tracker total: single source.[1][2] | $6.6M |
Stephen Eisele (CEO since January 2026) · Chris Stott (founder, executive chairman) · Jose Hernandez (board)
| Program | Stage | Verified funding | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lonestar (this page) | Stage 4 of 7: Payload demo flown | $5M | NET Apr 2027: First StarVault storage payload on Sidus LizzieSat-4 (Bandwagon-6) |
| AWS | Stage 4 of 7: Payload demo flown | Not counted | None announced |
| Astro Digital | Stage 4 of 7: Payload demo flown | Not counted | Q1 2027: SPAC close and Nasdaq listing |
| Axiom Space | Stage 4 of 7: Payload demo flown | Not counted | 2027: AxODC Node ISS (petabyte-class, optical link) delivered to the ISS |
| Booz Allen | Stage 4 of 7: Payload demo flown | Not counted | None announced |
| D-Orbit | Stage 4 of 7: Payload demo flown | Not counted | None announced |
| Edge Aerospace | Stage 4 of 7: Payload demo flown | Not counted | None announced |
Evidence reviewed 5 Oct 2026, fact-checked against primary sources. Nothing on this page is sponsored, and no company can pay to change, reorder or preview it. Spotted an error? Report a correction. How stages and labels work.
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