NASA Awards 11 Advance Lunar Power And Tech Contracts

NASA has selected 11 U.S. companies to develop technologies that could support long-term exploration on the Moon and in space for the benefit of all. The technologies range from lunar surface power systems to tools for in-space 3D printing, which will expand industry capabilities for a sustained human presence on the Moon through Artemis, as well as other NASA, government, and commercial missions.  

"Partnering with the commercial space industry lets us at NASA harness the strength of American innovation and ingenuity...The technologies that NASA is investing in today have the potential to be the foundation of future exploration." -  Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator

The selected technologies support infrastructure and capabilities in space and at the Moon. Six of the selected companies are small businesses. The awarded companies, their projects, and the approximate value of NASA’s contribution are:

Astrobotic Technology of Pittsburgh - $34.6 million for LunaGrid-Lite: Demonstration of Tethered, Scalable Lunar Power Transmission

Big Metal Additive of Denver - $5.4 million for Improving Cost and Availability of Space Habitat Structures with Additive Manufacturing

Blue Origin of Kent, Washington - $34.7 million for In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)-Based Power on the Moon

Freedom Photonics of Santa Barbara, California - $1.6 million for Highly Efficient Watt-Class Direct Diode Lidar for Remote Sensing

Lockheed Martin of Littleton, Colorado - $9.1 million for Joining Demonstrations In-Space

Redwire of Jacksonville, Florida - $12.9 million for Infrastructure Manufacturing with Lunar Regolith – Mason

Protoinnovations of Pittsburgh - $6.2 million for The Mobility Coordinator: An Onboard COTS (Commercial-Off-the-Shelf) Software Architecture for Sustainable, Safe, Efficient, and Effective Lunar Surface Mobility Operations

Psionic of Hampton, Virginia - $3.2 million – Validating No-Light Lunar Landing Technology that Reduces Risk, SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power), and Cost

United Launch Alliance of Centennial, Colorado - $25 million – ULA Vulcan Engine Reuse Scale Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator Technology Demonstration

Varda Space Industries of El Segundo, California - $1.9 million for Conformal Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator Tech Transfer and Commercial Production

Zeno Power Systems of Washington - $15 million for A Universal Americium-241 Radioisotope Power Supply for Artemis

In a highly competitive process, NASA has chosen these 11 commercial companies, each specializing in cutting-edge space technologies, to participate in its Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative. The initiative focuses on four key areas essential for the success of Artemis missions: lunar power, energy storage, communications, and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). 

1. Lunar Power:

One of the most crucial aspects of prolonged lunar missions is the generation of power to sustain the astronauts and equipment. Astrobotic, a leading lunar logistics company, and their partner, Aerojet Rocketdyne, have been awarded a contract to develop a compact and efficient nuclear power system. This pioneering technology will provide a reliable and continuous power supply to support lunar habitats, scientific instruments, and other essential equipment.

2. Energy Storage:

NASA has awarded a contract to Sierra Nevada Corporation, known for its extensive experience in aerospace technology. They will focus on designing and manufacturing advanced energy storage systems capable of withstanding the harsh lunar environment. This technology will be crucial in storing excess power generated during peak periods and providing electricity when solar power is not available.

3. Communications:

Reliable communication infrastructure is essential for successful lunar missions. To address this, NASA has selected Lockheed Martin to develop a prototype of a high-bandwidth space relay system. This system will enhance communication capabilities between the lunar surface, the Gateway (a planned lunar outpost in orbit around the Moon), and Earth, enabling seamless data transmission and real-time communication with astronauts.

4. In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU):

In-situ resource utilization is a critical technology for sustainability on the Moon. NASA has chosen Masten Space Systems to develop an ISRU system capable of extracting and utilizing resources from the lunar regolith, such as water ice. This technology will enable astronauts to produce propellant for their return journey, as well as potable water and other consumables, directly from the Moon's resources.

These technologies developed by the selected companies will play a vital role in achieving these ambitious goals. The agency's decision to partner with commercial entities fosters collaboration between the public and private sectors, driving innovation and reducing the overall cost of space exploration.

"Our partnerships with industry could be a cornerstone of humanity's return to the Moon under Artemis...By creating new opportunities for streamlined awards, we hope to push crucial technologies over the finish line so they can be used in future missions. These innovative partnerships will help advance capabilities that will enable sustainable exploration on the Moon." - Dr. Prasun Desai, Acting Associate Administrator for STMD at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

The eleven companies will now work closely with NASA's experts to refine and finalize their technologies over the next few years. As each technology reaches maturity, they will undergo rigorous testing and evaluations to ensure they meet NASA's stringent safety and performance standards.