Castrol's Exciting Edutainment Documentary: Drive Me to the Moon

Castrol's Documentary: Drive Me to the Moon

Castrol has recently launched an engaging documentary titled "Drive Me to the Moon," developed in partnership with Lunar Outpost, a renowned company located in Colorado. This exclusive film offers a fascinating look into the engineering and innovation necessary for building mobility solutions on the Moon.

The documentary reflects the culmination of a successful three-year collaboration between Castrol and Lunar Outpost, which resulted in the deployment of the very first commercial rover to the Moon—specifically, the rover that made history by landing on the lunar South Pole. By leveraging its expertise, Castrol contributed valuable insights to the Mission Control Center situated in Colorado, which oversaw the rover's operations. Additionally, Castrol provided cutting-edge, space-grade lubricants used in the rover's payload, designed by the MIT Media Lab.

"Drive Me to the Moon" charts the journey of the Lunar Voyage 1 (LV1) from meticulous testing phases to its triumphant landing. It reveals the collaborative efforts, precision engineering, and enduring spirit necessary to conquer challenges in one of the most extreme environments in our solar system. The documentary features insightful interviews with key figures from Lunar Outpost, former NASA and European Space Agency specialists, and technical experts from Castrol, showcasing how the synergy between scientific research and industry innovation is pushing the boundaries of space exploration.

This documentary resonates with a rich history of Castrol's involvement in space technologies, dating back to the 1960s. Castrol's high-performance lubricants have played crucial roles in various pioneering NASA missions, from the historic Apollo missions to the deployment of Mars Rovers, the Space Shuttle program, the International Space Station, and the Hubble telescope. The same meticulous standards applicable in space also influence the quality of Castrol products on Earth, reflecting the company's commitment to excellence in every domain of operation.

The premiere of "Drive Me to the Moon" occurs at a pivotal moment for lunar exploration—coinciding with NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon after over 50 years. This exciting debut took place at the Space Center Houston's Space Auditorium, presented by the former Chief of Staff of NASA, Gabe Sherman, who welcomed esteemed guests from diverse backgrounds within the global space and engineering spheres.

Following the film screening, a Q&A session unfolded, diving deeper into the film’s production, the challenges encountered in lunar engineering, and the future of commercial space endeavors. The panel included notable figures such as Chris Lockett, Senior Vice President of Electrification and Technology at Castrol; AJ Gemer, Co-founder and CTO of Lunar Outpost; Rod Pyle, an author and editor-in-chief of Ad Astra magazine; and Anita Sengupta, Chief Executive Officer of Hydroplane.

Chris Lockett expressed, "Drive Me to the Moon tells the story of pushing limits and testing technology where nothing can be taken for granted. This work reflects our ethos—the same precision and innovation required in space helps to guide our advances on Earth, from electric mobility to industrial systems and beyond."

Fabiana Neves, Vice President of Castrol Americas, added, "This film shines a light on what happens when imagination and innovation meet. Our collaboration with Lunar Outpost embodies the pioneering spirit driving everything we do—pushing boundaries to create technologies that perform in both deep space and everyday life."

Joe Kane, Founder and Creative Director at Polar Media, the documentary's producers, stated, "Drive Me to the Moon goes beyond the rocket launch to reveal the story behind human endeavor. The film offers an authentic, behind-the-scenes insight into the technology and expertise that make it all possible, presented in an entertaining and educational manner."

Justin Cyrus, CEO of Lunar Outpost, remarked, "Working with Castrol has been essential in advancing our Mission Control and preparing for future lunar exploration. The documentary celebrates the people, partnerships, and perseverance that are key to humanity's return to the Moon, paving the way for a permanent human presence beyond Earth."

Through this documentary, Castrol reinforces its commitment to testing technology at the boundaries of performance in both lunar environments and daily life on Earth. "Drive Me to the Moon" will be available for viewing on Castrol’s YouTube channel starting February 2026.