NASA JPL
Honeybee PlanetVac
ROBOSCORE™ METHODOLOGY — 9 DIMENSIONS
Independently verified.
Not manufacturer-provided.
$15.0M
What problem does this solve?
Space Robotics applications.
Who is this for?
Enterprise operations teams with dedicated automation budgets and integration requirements.
BEST FOR
Space Robotics applications
AVOID IF
Budget is primary constraint and manual alternatives exist
PAYBACK
TBD
COMPLEXITY
TBD
Pneumatic sample collection system for planetary surfaces. Uses gas jets to loft regolith into a collection container. Flew on Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission. Low-mass, no moving parts.
The Honeybee PlanetVac earns a RoboScore of 75.8/100, placing it in the solid tier for space applications robots. At $15.0M it sits in the premium enterprise segment, making it a reasonable choice for teams where overall capability and reliability is the priority. NASA JPL delivers a competent platform at this price point. Deployment requirements vary by facility — consult the manufacturer.
Organizations with strategic automation mandates, dedicated robotics teams, and capital budgets above $500K. If overall capability and reliability is your primary decision criterion, the Honeybee PlanetVac deserves a place on your shortlist.
Any operation without a clear, validated ROI model showing payback within 24 months. If your requirements center on a different set of capabilities, compare alternatives in the space category before committing.
Other
| Method | Pneumatic lofting |
| Mass Kg | 2 |
| Heritage | IM-1 lunar mission |
| Surfaces | Regolith, soil, dust |
| Moving Parts | 0 |
| Sample Grams | 200 |
The Real Cost of Ownership
Purchase price is only 40-60% of the true cost. Here's the full picture.
Purchase Costs
MSRP
$15.0M
CURRENT
$15.0M
Operating Costs (Annual)
MAINTENANCE LOW
—
MAINTENANCE HIGH
—
5-Year Summary
$15.0M
Purchase price + estimated 5 years maintenance
Monthly savings
$8,333
Payback period
N/A
3-year net ROI
-98%
5-year savings
-$14,500,000
| Interval | Task | Est. Time | Est. Cost | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | Visual inspection & debris removal | 5–10 min | — | Operator |
| Weekly | Sensor calibration check & log review | 15–30 min | — | Operator |
| Monthly | Lubrication, belt/chain tension check | 1–2 hrs | $50–150 | Technician |
| 6-Month | Full mechanical inspection & software update | 4–8 hrs | $500–2,000 | Certified Tech |
| Annual | Comprehensive overhaul & recalibration | 1–2 days | $2,000–10,000 | OEM / Partner |
Service Details
Operator Training
Contact Vendor
Typical Training Plan
SAFETY & BASICS
2–4 hours
OPERATIONS
4–16 hours
TROUBLESHOOTING
2–8 hours
MAINTENANCE
4–16 hours
Before purchasing the Honeybee PlanetVac, ask the vendor these critical questions:
- 01What is the total cost of ownership over 5 years?
- 02What does the warranty cover, and what's excluded?
- 03What is your average response time for critical issues?
- 04Can you provide references from similar deployments?
- 05Is a pilot program available before full commitment?
... and 15 more critical questions
Purchase Price
$15.0M
Est. Annual Maintenance
Est. $2.3M–$3.0M/year (15–20%)
5-Year Total
Requires pricing data
Cost per Shift
—
Cost per Hour
—
Based on industry averages. Actual costs vary.
NASA JPL
Founded
EST. 1936(90 years)
Funding
Undisclosed
Employees
Undisclosed
HQ
US
Vendor Health Score
Health score pending verification
Certifications data being verified. Contact manufacturer for compliance documentation.
Price Drop Alert
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