NASA has allocated an award of $150 million in new funding to 11 companies for advanced space tech projects.
These projects encompass a range of technologies, including advanced power generation on the lunar surface and additive manufacturing for space habitats.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: NASA Takes Steps In Preparation For September’s Asteroid
The funding was awarded as part of NASA’s Tipping Point program, which aims to mature technologies and make them commercially viable for both NASA missions and commercial customers.
Prasun Desai, acting associate administrator for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, stated that the awards are intended to push crucial technologies over the finish line.
He also stated that the awards could play a significant role in humanity’s return to the Moon under the Artemis program.
In his words: “Our partnerships with industry could be a cornerstone of humanity’s return to the Moon under Artemis”.
Five of the awarded projects focus on technologies to support long-term lunar exploration.
Blue Origin received a $34.7 million award to advance its solution for processing solar cells from lunar regolith, which would provide unlimited electricity and power transmission on the Moon.
Astrobotic, a company planning to send a lander to the Moon later this year, received $34.6 million to demonstrate a new power and transmission system on the lunar surface.
This will enable sustainable power generation and distribution services for various lunar surface systems.
“LunaGrid-Lite will pave the way for power generation and distribution services on the Moon, and change the game for lunar surface systems like landers, rovers, habitats, science suits, and in-situ resource utilization pilot plants,” Astrobotic CEO John Thornton said in a statement.
“With renewable, uninterrupted commercial power service, both crewed and robotic operations can be made sustainable for long-term operations,” he added.
The remaining six projects are centered on different aspects of space technology.
For instance, Varda Space Industries received $1.9 million to mature and commercialize an advanced thermal protection system material developed by NASA.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Apple Slammed Class Lawsuit Involving Over $1B In Damages
United Launch Alliance was granted $25 million to continue developing an inflatable heat shield technology, potentially useful for returning portions of a rocket booster from space.
This marks NASA’s sixth Tipping Point award cycle, and the agency hopes that these investments will bring these cutting-edge space technologies closer to practical implementation and future space missions.
