NASA invests in studies for sustainable Lunar exploration

NASA invests in studies for sustainable Lunar exploration
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 24, 2025

NASA has awarded a series of new study contracts aimed at advancing capabilities to support life and work on the Moon. These initiatives are part of the Artemis program, the agency's strategy for deep space exploration, and include contracts with nine U.S. companies across seven states.

The Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships Appendix R contracts are focused on addressing challenges identified in NASA's Moon to Mars architecture, emphasizing solutions for the unique demands of the lunar environment.

"These contract awards are the catalyst for developing critical capabilities for the Artemis missions and the everyday needs of astronauts for long-term exploration on the lunar surface," said Nujoud Merancy, deputy associate administrator, Strategy and Architecture Office at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "The strong response to our request for proposals is a testament to the interest in human exploration and the growing deep-space economy. This is an important step to a sustainable return to the Moon that, along with our commercial partners, will lead to innovation and expand our knowledge for future lunar missions, looking toward Mars."

The contracts, totaling $24 million, span a variety of innovative approaches to logistics and mobility, including advanced robotics and autonomous technologies. The selected companies and their focus areas are:

+ Blue Origin: Merritt Island, Florida: Logistical carriers; logistics handling and offloading; logistics transfer; staging, storage, and tracking; surface cargo and mobility; integrated strategies.

+ Intuitive Machines: Houston, Texas: Logistics handling and offloading; surface cargo and mobility.

+ Leidos: Reston, Virginia: Logistical carriers; logistics transfer; staging, storage, and tracking; trash management; integrated strategies.

+ Lockheed Martin: Littleton, Colorado: Logistical carriers; logistics transfer; surface cargo and mobility.

+ MDA Space: Houston: Surface cargo and mobility.

+ Moonprint: Dover, Delaware: Logistical carriers.

+ Pratt Miller Defense: New Hudson, Michigan: Surface cargo and mobility.

+ Sierra Space: Louisville, Colorado: Logistical carriers; logistics transfer; staging, storage, and tracking; trash management; integrated strategies.

+ Special Aerospace Services: Huntsville, Alabama: Logistical carriers; logistics handling and offloading; logistics transfer; staging, storage, and tracking; trash management; surface cargo and mobility; integrated strategies.

Through collaboration with industry, academia, and international partners, NASA continues to refine its blueprint for human exploration. The methodical development of solutions aims to enable a sustainable presence on the Moon while paving the way for future missions to Mars and beyond.