NASA selects 41 space technologies for future Moon and Mars exploration

NASA announced Tuesday it has selected 41 technology proposals from 37 American companies to help develop capabilities for future missions to the Moon and Mars. The selections are part of the agency's 2025 Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity, which is designed to accelerate innovations in areas such as space transportation, planetary surface operations, and infrastructure for long-term exploration on the Moon, NASA said. "We are empowering American industry to become active partners in NASA's missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond," said Greg Stover, director of the Advanced Research and Technology Division in the agency's Research and Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Rather than providing direct funding, the program creates partnerships that allow companies to work alongside NASA using the agency's facilities, hardware, software, and technical expertise. Since the program began in 2015, NASA has supported more than 110 projects through these collaborations. The agency estimates it has contributed about $30 million in resources, while participating companies have invested an additional $32 million. Individual agreements are expected to last between 12 and 24 months. Selected projects include Lockheed Martin advancing a compact modular power system for the Moon's permanently shadowed regions, Kall Morris Inc. developing a supplemental payload attachment system, and Moonprint Solutions creating flexible protective covers to shield equipment from abrasive lunar dust.