Potomac Database Systems provides continuous lunar surface data by deploying a persistent sensor node called Source, which uses proprietary thermal packaging to survive the -170 °C lunar night for years.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
The emerging lunar economy lacks reliable, long‑term surface data because current solar‑powered sensors cease operation after roughly two weeks and freeze during the –170 °C lunar night. This results in fragmented, extremely costly datasets that hinder planning for resource extraction, site characterization, and sustained habitation.
Solution
Potomac Database Systems addresses this gap with a dedicated lunar data platform. Its Source sensor node incorporates proprietary thermal packaging that enables continuous operation through multiple lunar nights, delivering years‑long, high‑resolution measurements of temperature, radiation, and other surface conditions. Collected data are streamed to the Nexus analytics platform, which fuses the proprietary streams with publicly available lunar datasets to create a unified, searchable repository. By aggregating and standardizing these inputs, Nexus reduces the cost of lunar surface data by up to 90 %, making terabytes of information affordable for commercial and scientific users. The platform provides tools for trend analysis, resource mapping, and site risk assessment, supporting more informed decision‑making for lunar missions and future habitats.
Target Audience
Primary customers are lunar mission planners, commercial space companies, and research institutions that require extensive, affordable surface data for resource utilization, landing site selection, and habitat development.
Features
- Persistent Source node with thermal insulation that survives the –170 °C lunar night for multi‑year deployments
- Integrated suite of environmental sensors (temperature, radiation, dust, etc.) delivering continuous, high‑frequency surface measurements
- Nexus analytics platform that merges proprietary sensor data with existing public lunar datasets into a single, queryable database
- Cost‑reduction engine that lowers data acquisition expenses by up to 90 % compared to traditional short‑lived missions
- Web‑based visualization and API access for custom analytics, resource mapping, and site‑characterization workflows
- Scalable architecture designed to ingest terabytes to petabytes of lunar data for long‑term scientific and commercial use