Robotic Asteroid Prospector (RAP) Staged from L-1: Start of the Deep Space Economy

Robotic Asteroid Prospector (RAP) project will examine and evaluate the feasibility of asteroid mining in terms of means, methods, and systems. The objectives of the Robotic Asteroid Prospector (RAP) project are to examine and evaluate the feasibility of asteroid mining in terms of means, methods, and systems. This study decomposes the challenge of asteroid mining into four key efforts: Mission design, including trajectory and logistics from an Earth-Moon Lagrange Point (EMLP) to the asteroid and return to that EMLP, Spacecraft design including propulsion and Mission operations, Mining technology for microgravity and vacuum operations, and How these efforts can add up to a business case for asteroid mining.

The economic premise of RAP is that humans will develop an infrastructure for living and working in space. In this century, this infrastructure will grow to support hundreds of people and eventually thousands of people across the Solar System.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — 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.