DARPA LASSO Program Is Accepting Proposals For A Lunar Orbiter

On 14 April 2025, the DARPA LASSO (Lunar Assay via Small Satellite Orbiter) program was officially open to the public for proposals for a small lunar orbiter for prospecting water ice on the Moon.

The DARPA LASSO Program Welcomes Ideas From Organisations for A Lunar Orbiter

DARPA is now calling on the technological creativity of various organisations across the US for a new program that it’s working on. This program, called LASSO (Lunar Assay via Small Satellite Orbiter), will work twofold and overall lead to the development of a new spacecraft.

Organisations that join this program will generate the design and operational ideas for this new spacecraft. They will work to develop workable ideas for a new lunar orbiter with technology to prospect water ice on the Moon’s surface.

DARPA will split the first phase into two sections, Phase 1A (a six-month conceptual design study) and Phase 1B (an 18-month critical design review).

Once both sections of the program’s first phase are complete, things can proceed to the second phase. This phase will involve more technical work to build the LASSO lunar orbiter in under one year.

This is the entire objective of this new program, which is now calling on various organisations for their engagement. According to those familiar with this new program, it will come to an end after the second phase is complete, and the lunar orbiter is ready for use.

DARPA also requires that during the presentation of their proposal, the organisations will need to shed more light on their cost estimation. So the budget for this program may be flexible enough to accommodate the project’s needs.

The DARPA LASSO Program Will Help Future Lunar Explorations

Over the years, we have seen significant growth in the number of lunar missions from various space agencies around the world. Each mission seems to take a unique look at lunar exploration, aiming at understanding various areas or features on the Moon.

Now, the DARPA LASSO program is here to find water ice on the Moon using a lunar orbiter.

With this new project, DARPA argues that the program will not only benefit itself. It says that “LASSO will benefit DARPA, and eventually [the U.S. Space Force], by establishing new technologies that can offer increased manoeuvrability and SSA while also supporting commercial space capabilities and NASA missions by identifying the existence of proven reserves of water.”

The orbiter will also need to be able to operate in very low orbits around the Moon for the abstract to fit DARPA requirements. This lunar orbiter will cover the Moon’s surface in four years, identifying areas where water ice can be found.