ISRU-Based Power on the Moon (ISRUPower-TP)

Blue Origin’s Blue Alchemist is a commercial, end-to-end system that produces scalable solar power from lunar regolith using molten regolith electrolysis and other associated technologies. Blue Origin's Blue Alchemist demonstrates integrated, autonomous operation of eight essential technologies by ingesting regolith simulants and producing silicon solar cells, aluminum wires, oxygen, iron, and slag in lunar environmental conditions, maturing the integrated system to TRL 6.  Making unlimited amounts of solar power, power transmission cables, and oxygen anywhere on the Moon supports both NASA lunar sustainability and Blue Origin commercial business objectives. The project supports “global lunar utilization leading to commercial commodities and services”. Electrical power is a key utility on the Moon.Making power from local materials can unlock sustainable operations and give the US the ability to establish a global and permanent presence. Blue Alchemist's business case is based on selling power generated by solar arrays made in situ from lunar regolith to diverse customers, and selling byproducts of oxygen, iron, and slag to secondary markets. These products enable sustainability by reducing transportation and construction costs. ISRU-based power on the Moon enhances a robust lunar economy by cutting the cost per kilowatt-hour in half. In addition, Blue Alchemist’s multifunctional suite of capabilities can be adapted to make terrestrial industries such as solar power and steel production more sustainable. During the project, Blue Origin will perform thermal vacuum (TVAC) tests at increasing levels of integration using design-build-test (DBT) cycles. Electrical power is a key utility on the Moon. Making power from local materials can unlock sustainable operations and give the US the ability to establish a global and permanent presence.

​Blue Alchemist will  enable lunar sustainability by reducing transportation and construction costs. ISRU-based power on the Moon enhances a robust lunar economy by cutting the cost per kilowatt-hour in half. Electrical power is a key utility on the Moon. Making power from local materials can unlock sustainable operations and give the US the ability to establish a global and permanent presence.Blue Alchemist will also provide oxygen for use on the lunar surface.  Oxygen can be used for breathing air, enabling longer duration human missions on the moon.  Sustaining human presence on the Moon beyond the initial Artemis landings requires lunar surface infrastructure. Referencing NASA’s Moon to Mars Objectives, Blue Alchemist aligns with two of NASA’s top lunar infrastructure development objectives: develop an “incremental lunar power generation and distribution system” and demonstrate “industrial scale ISRU capabilities”. Blue Alchemist is a novel approach towards developing an incremental lunar power generation and distribution system. It is evolvable to support continuous robotic/human operation and capable of scaling to industrial power levels and global power utilization.

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.