NASA has officially opened a call for proposals aimed at closing technological gaps necessary for establishing a sustainable base at the lunar South Pole. The initiative, titled the NextSTEP-3 Broad Agency Announcement Appendix A: Lunar Enabling Infrastructure Accelerator, focuses on maturing systems essential for construction, power, and resource management on the lunar surface.
According to Greg Stover, director of NASA’s Advanced Research and Technology Division, the program is designed to bolster the U.S. industrial base while fostering the infrastructure required for extended exploration. The agency is seeking advancements in five specific domains: vertical solar arrays for consistent power, oxygen extraction from lunar regolith, and the development of radioisotope Stirling generators to provide nuclear-based electricity in challenging environments. Additionally, the solicitation covers in-space manufacturing and the production of innovative nanomaterials to decrease dependence on Earth-based resupply missions.
The competition is open to private companies, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations. International partners are also eligible to participate as part of U.S.-led teams. NASA intends to utilize the data and results gathered from these potential contracts to inform future acquisition strategies for lunar exploration.
Source: NASA
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