NASA has teamed up with 11 U.S. companies to develop leading-edge technologies that could support lunar exploration initiatives and sustained human presence on the Moon.
These technologies cover a wide range of areas, from lunar surface power systems to in-space 3D printing tools, and are poised to significantly expand the capabilities of the space industry through the Artemis program and beyond.
Partnering for Innovation
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed his enthusiasm for partnering with the commercial space industry, acknowledging the strength of American innovation and ingenuity that this collaboration harnesses.
By investing in these technologies today, NASA aims to build a solid foundation for future exploration endeavors.
The projects selected for this opportunity, known as the sixth Tipping Point, will be funded jointly by NASA and the industry partners. The total expected NASA contribution to these partnerships is an impressive $150 million.
Each company will also contribute a minimum percentage of the total project cost, ranging from 10% to 25%, depending on the size of the company. The funded Space Act Agreements will be milestone-based and last for up to four years, providing ample time for these ambitious projects to come to fruition.
Advancing Infrastructure and Capabilities
The technologies chosen for development support infrastructure and capabilities both in space and on the Moon. Notably, six of the selected companies are small businesses, highlighting NASA’s commitment to fostering innovation and opportunities for diverse players in the space industry.
The Chosen Companies and Their Projects
Astrobotic Technology of Pittsburgh – LunaGrid-Lite: Demonstration of Tethered, Scalable Lunar Power Transmission. (NASA contribution: $34.6 million)
Big Metal Additive of Denver – Improving Cost and Availability of Space Habitat Structures with Additive Manufacturing. (NASA contribution: $5.4 million)
Blue Origin of Kent, Washington – In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)-Based Power on the Moon. (NASA contribution: $34.7 million)
Freedom Photonics of Santa Barbara, California – Highly Efficient Watt-Class Direct Diode Lidar for Remote Sensing. (NASA contribution: $1.6 million)
Lockheed Martin of Littleton, Colorado – Joining Demonstrations In-Space. (NASA contribution: $9.1 million)
Redwire of Jacksonville, Florida – Infrastructure Manufacturing with Lunar Regolith – Mason. (NASA contribution: $12.9 million)
Protoinnovations of Pittsburgh – The Mobility Coordinator: An Onboard COTS (Commercial-Off-the-Shelf) Software Architecture for Sustainable, Safe, Efficient, and Effective Lunar Surface Mobility Operations. (NASA contribution: $6.2 million)
Psionic of Hampton, Virginia – Validating No-Light Lunar Landing Technology that Reduces Risk, SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power), and Cost. (NASA contribution: $3.2 million)
United Launch Alliance of Centennial, Colorado – ULA Vulcan Engine Reuse Scale Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator Technology Demonstration. (NASA contribution: $25 million)
Varda Space Industries of El Segundo, California – Conformal Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator Tech Transfer and Commercial Production. (NASA contribution: $1.9 million)
Zeno Power Systems of Washington – A Universal Americium-241 Radioisotope Power Supply for Artemis. (NASA contribution: $15 million)
A Cornerstone for Moon Exploration
Dr. Prasun Desai, the acting associate administrator for STMD at NASA Headquarters, emphasized the importance of these industry partnerships in humanity’s return to the Moon under the Artemis program.
Streamlined awards and innovative collaborations will drive these crucial technologies forward, making them ready for use in future missions. These advancements are expected to play a vital role in enabling sustainable lunar exploration on the Moon and beyond.
Technologies Enabling Lunar Exploration
Five of the selected technologies have been specifically designed to support lunar exploration. For astronauts to spend extended periods on the lunar surface, habitats, power sources, transportation, and other infrastructure are essential.
Two of the projects focus on in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), which involves using the Moon’s surface material to create the required infrastructure.
Redwire’s project aims to develop technologies for utilizing lunar regolith to construct roads, habitat foundations, and landing pads, leveraging the available local resources effectively.
Blue Origin’s technology, on the other hand, involves extracting elements from lunar regolith to create solar cells and wire. This innovative approach could provide a sustainable power source for work on the Moon.
Astrobotic’s proposal seeks to advance power distribution technology on the Moon’s surface, and it is planned to be tested in a future lunar mission.
The CubeRover, developed by Astrobotic, would enable the unreeling of over half a mile of high-voltage power line to transfer power from a production system to a habitat or work area on the Moon.
Advancements in Other Space Exploration Areas
The remaining six projects will contribute to new capabilities in various areas of space exploration and Earth observation.
Freedom Photonics will focus on developing a novel laser source that could enhance the efficiency of lidar systems, providing valuable insights into Earth’s atmosphere and aiding in the understanding of climate change.
United Launch Alliance’s inflatable heat shield technology aims to return large rocket components from low Earth orbit for reuse, as well as land heavier payloads, such as infrastructure for crewed missions, on destinations like Mars.
Header Photo: The Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator, or LOFTID, spacecraft is pictured after its atmospheric re-entry test in November 2022. Through a new Tipping Point partnership, United Launch Alliance will continue development of the inflatable heat shield technology demonstrated by LOFTID. Credits: NASA/Greg Swanson
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