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Lawn Dart Terrestrial Demonstration (LD 1.0)
Completed
TRL 6 (started at 4, targeting 6)
Description
The Lawn Dart Terrestrial Demonstration aims to test the remote delivery of security commodities (e.g., communication, navigation, situational awareness/sensing, power) to the lunar surface. Sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV), the system is intended to work in concert with orbital (e.g., LunaNet) and surface assets to provide publish-and-subscribe security commodities to civil, commercial, security, and allied consumers for safe operation in the environment. Testing will include a system level demonstration of the Lawn Dart concept using the Masten Xodiax vehicle.
Benefits
The Lawn Dart Terrestrial Demonstration will test remote delivery of security commodities (communication, navigation, situational awareness/sensing, power) to the lunar surface. Sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV), the system is intended to work in concert with orbital (e.g., LunaNet) and surface assets to provide publish-and-subscribe security commodities to civil, commercial, security, and allied consumers for safe operation in the environment. Testing will involve a system-level demonstration of the Lawn Dart concept on the Xodiac vehicle from Masten Space Systems. This has the potential to benefit NASA missions and the commercial space industry.
Details
| Technology area | Communications, Navigation, and Orbital Debris Tracking and Characterization Systems > Revolutionary Communications Technologies > Cognitive Networking |
| Program | Flight Opportunities (FO) |
| Lead organization | Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA |
| Start date | 2021-07-08 |
| End date | 2024-07-08 |
Project contacts
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
- Charles Finley
- Charles L. Finley
How to get involved
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.