Extra Large Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT-XL)

Astrobotic proposes to continue the development of an Extra-Large Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT-XL) system that will serve as a large-scale power solution to meet the growing energy demands of Lunar missions. Over the next six years, 26 Lunar missions are planned for launch, many with a shared fundamental objective of establishing a sustained presence on the Moon. Lunar missions are currently constrained by power requirements to survive the Lunar night, as well as the mass and cost of power systems to provide sufficient energy for long-duration operations. As a result, accessible power is a vital commodity for all planned science, exploration, and commercial activity on the Moon and will be the key enabler for long-term Lunar missions of the future. The Phase II contract will be used to mature Astrobotic's 50 kW VSAT-XL system to TRL 4, begin validating our system performance predictions, and refine our vertically integrated manufacturing processes for large deployable power systems. By completing these critical development activities for VSAT-XL, Astrobotic will expand LunaGrid's capabilities to service customers with higher power requirements and meet the energy demands of the growing Lunar market. The total addressable market for Lunar services from 2021–2030 is $105B according to the NSR Moon Markets Analysis published in 2022. Astrobotic used this analysis to conduct a top-down estimate of LunaGrid’s projected market size. Within Lunar services, Lunar infrastructure makes up 12 % of the market and encompasses six categories: power, comms, PNT, SDA, landing pads, and shelter. Because power is one of six categories within Lunar infrastructure, Astrobotic projects that 2 % or $2.1B of the Lunar services market will be for Lunar power by the year 2030. The NSR Market Analysis is the latest report, so if we assume a similar total addressable market (TAM) over a ten-year period and adjust to beginning this year, we are assuming a $105B TAM from 2025–2035.

LunaGrid is well aligned with NASA’s overarching goal of establishing a sustained Lunar presence and has a development timeline that will allow it to support many upcoming flagship NASA science missions, CLPS missions, Artemis missions, and technology development missions. Astrobotic is particularly well positioned for the anticipated CLPS 2.0 program, which will feature larger science missions and bulk deliveries. These missions will have higher power demands, and thus further sales opportunities for LunaGrid or LunaGrid elements (e.g., lander-mounted VSATs and VSAT-XLs). Astrobotic is partnering for the development of technology complements to the LunaGrid system with potential for future integration including a nuclear microreactor for the Fission Surface Power (FSP) program and a regenerative fuel cell (RFC) system. While VSATs and Li-ion batteries are baselined as the initial power generators and storage systems for LunaGrid, our grid architecture is fully compatible with FSP and RFC systems and can accept these technologies as the architecture expands.

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.