NASA Calls for Proposals to Accelerate Lunar Surface Technologies

NASA has issued a call for proposals aimed at accelerating the development of lunar surface technologies necessary for establishing a Moon Base in the southern polar region. The agency's solicitation, announced on September 8, 2026, seeks to address capability gaps in areas such as power generation, oxygen extraction, and in-situ resource utilization. These technologies are crucial for enabling long-term human exploration of the Moon.

Greg Stover, director of NASA's Advanced Research and Technology Division, emphasized the importance of partnering with industry to strengthen the U.S. industrial base while maturing the required capabilities and infrastructure for sustainable lunar presence. The NextSTEP-3 Broad Agency Announcement, Appendix A: Lunar Enabling Infrastructure Accelerator, focuses on five key areas: vertical solar array technology for consistent power generation, extraction of oxygen from lunar regolith, radioisotope Stirling generators for nuclear energy production, advanced manufacturing techniques to minimize reliance on Earth resupply, and innovative nanomaterials production for commercial use on the lunar surface.

NASA intends to foster U.S.-led capabilities while allowing competitive participation from private industry, academic institutions, non-profit entities, and international partners through U.S.-led teams. The insights gained from the resulting contracts may inform future acquisition strategies. Further information about NextSTEP-3 is available at https://go.nasa.gov/4x20o3t.