Optical Wireless Technology for Lunar to Mars

This SBIR will develop optical wireless technology component technologies capable of long-range (0.1 to 20 km), scalable 100W to 5,000W of regulated power transfer with traceability to future Lunar and Mars missions. Particular attention is focused on meeting the environmental mission demands, securing high reliability, and improving overall power transfer efficiency relative to the state of the art.

The technology is intended to support NASA's needs for Optical Wireless Power Transfer (OWPT) for the Lunar to Mars initiative. The proposed technology would support both surface-to-surface and orbit-to-surface OWPT applications. The benefits of OWPT include supporting longer-range deployment of mobile vehicles, increasing rover productivity, powering operations and vehicles conducting ISRU operations inside Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs), distributing power from solar and fission surface power generators where running a wired cabling service is costly or less practical. NASA and DoD are encouraging commercial companies to take the lead in investing and developing lunar bases. Commercial entities including major aerospace companies, DoD organizations, Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) and large self-funded exploration companies. Potential applications include supporting long-range prospecting, ISRU mining, refining, and construction (landing pads and habits) where mobile power is enabling vs wired power.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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.