Silicon and Iron Extraction on the Moon

Lunar Resources proposes to NASA the Silicon and Iron on the Moon (SIRE) Phase II project to raise the maturity of ISRU extraction of electrolytic iron and ultra-high purity silicon from lunar regolith via molten regolith electrolysis (MRE). The project will see the fabrication, assembly and testing of prototype MRE reactors which will be tested initial in atmosphere then in lunar vacuum. The project will raise the maturity of SIRE from TRL 5 to TRL 7 in preparation for a future demonstration mission on the Moon. Furthermore, the technology will also be tested and demonstrated for speciality green iron and silicon production to support commercialization on Earth.

SIRE's NASA application is a reliable and abundent supply of low-cost ISRU electrolytic iron and ultra-high purity silicon on the Moon to support a lunar permanent prescense. SIRE's non-NASA earth applications are the production of green electrolytic iron and silicon to support green metal extraction on earth.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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.