posted 01-23-2025 10:07 AM               

NASA Invests in Artemis Studies to Support Long-Term Lunar Exploration

NASA awarded new study contracts Thursday to help support life and work on the lunar surface. As part of the agency's blueprint for deep space exploration to support the Artemis campaign, nine American companies in seven states are receiving awards.

Above: Artist’s rendering of astronauts managing logistics on the lunar surface. (NASA)

The Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships Appendix R contracts will advance learning in managing everyday challenges in the lunar environment identified in the agency's Moon to Mars architecture.

"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 selected proposals have a combined value of $24 million, spread across multiple companies, and propose innovative strategies and concepts for logistics and mobility solutions including advanced robotics and autonomous capabilities:

• Blue Origin, Merritt Island, Florida – logistical carriers; logistics handling and offloading; logistics transfer; staging, storage, and tracking; surface cargo and mobility; and integrated strategies

• Intuitive Machines, Houston, Texas – logistics handling and offloading; and surface cargo and mobility

• Leidos, Reston, Virginia – logistical carriers; logistics transfer; staging, storage, and tracking; trash management; and integrated strategies

• Lockheed Martin, Littleton, Colorado – logistical carriers; logistics transfer; and 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; and 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; and integrated strategies