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Break the Ice - Phase 2

Completed TRL 4 (started at 2, targeting 4)

Description

The goal of Phase 2 is to further the development of technologies that can excavate and transport large quantities of icy lunar regolith and can address the technology gaps such as excavating and delivering large quantities of icy regolith, development of reliable and durable hardware that is lightweight and energy efficient, and can operate well in extreme lunar environmental conditions. Through a prototype demonstration, Teams must show that their solutions address the reliability, durability, and traversability challenges these systems must overcome to operate for long durations.

Benefits

THis challenge is designed to develop new technologies that could support a sustained human presence on the Moon by the end of the decade.

Details

Technology areaExploration Destination Systems > In Situ Resource Use > Resource Acquisition, Isolation, and Preparation
ProgramPrizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing (PCC)
Lead organizationMarshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL
Start date2022-06-01
End date2024-06-12

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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.