NASA Invests Over $24 Million In Artemis Studies For Long-Term Lunar Exploration
26th Jan 2025
To improve the quality of future Moon missions, NASA is now pumping over $24 million into the Artemis studies of nine American companies. These studies will all aim to better understand and improve certain aspects of lunar exploration over the coming years.
New NASA Contract Awards To Fuel Artemis Studies
Nujoud Merancy, deputy associate administrator of the Strategy and Architecture Office at NASA Headquarters, referred to the new contract awards as “the catalyst for developing critical abilities” for future Artemis missions. He goes on to add that the contracts will also help to satisfy the “everyday needs of astronauts for long-term exploration on the lunar surface.”
After opening the window for applications to firms across America, various firms filled in to pitch their unique research and development ideas. Nine firms that applied for the NASA contract award were selected to access the funding.
The nine firms are Blue Origin, Intuitive Machines, Leidos, Lockheed Martin, MDA Space, Moonprint, Pratt Miller Defence, Sierra Space, and Special Aerospace. All nine firms have a unique vision for the research and development of their individual Artemis studies to boost long-term Lunar explorations.
Speaking on the contract applicants, Nujoud Merancy says that “the strong response to our request for proposals is a testament to the interest in human exploration and the growing deep-space economy.” He adds that the contract award 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.”
Fields That The NASA Artemis Studies Contract Awards Covers
The $24 million that NASA will use to fund the Artemis studies for the nine American firms awarded this contract will cover Lunar logistics. All nine American firms on this contract will develop proposals and concepts for “logistics and mobility solutions, including advanced robotics and autonomous capabilities.”
Blue Origin, Leidos, Sierra Space, and Special Aerospace Services will work on “logistical carriers; logistics handling and offloading; logistics transfer; staging, storage, and tracking; trash management; surface cargo and mobility; and integrated strategies.” Intuitive Machines will take research on “logistics handling and offloading; and surface cargo and mobility.”
Colorado-based firm Lockheed Martin is researching “logistical carriers; logistics transfer; and surface cargo and mobility.” MDA Space and Pratt Miller Defence will also develop unique concepts regarding “surface cargo and mobility” for future Lunar missions.
Lastly, Moonprint will take on the development of proposals, innovations, and concepts of “logistical carriers.” The collective work from these nine American firms will help shape future Lunar missions and possible NASA missions to Mars.
Thank you for your comment! It will be visible on the site after moderation.