MSolo for Commercial Partnerships (MSolo CP)

MSolo is a modified commercial off the shelf (COTS) instrument based on a gas analyzer from INFICON, a company marketing to the semiconductor and vacuum coating industries, security and energy industries, and automotive and refrigeration industries. The unit is highly automated, provides fast-scan capabilities with high sensitivity as demanded by terrestrial end-users, and is now ruggedized for spaceflight. The COTS instrument was tested in various space environments and both structural and electrical modifications were made to improve the instrument’s performance, robustness, and spaceflight readiness. The instrument successfully operated on the lunar surface during the Intuitive Machine – 2 Mission. Gas analysis is a critical tool for science investigations, resource characterization, and for characterization of ISRU processes.  Numerous future mission needs for gas analysis already exist.   Today there are multiple commercial companies working on a developing ISRU and prospecting mission concepts, with several of these prospecting mission concepts and process development testbeds currently using the commercially available version of the MSolo instrument. The ability to modify the commercial version of the mass spectrometer for spaceflight allows for projects to use the commercial units, which are low-cost high fidelity test unit, that can be integrated into a low TRL mission concepts as engineering development units, enabling the government and commercial programs to focus on the improving ISRU process without needing to develop a high-fidelity gas analysis method. MSolo is a unique solution, providing hardware that maintains functionality regardless of its application.  In addition to MSolo opportunities, Interlune will build on their successful Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 to perform technology maturation of the key technology demonstration elements of the Prospect Moon payload.  Maturing this technology to the point of flight readiness will position this commercial team to be ready for integration into a lunar lander as a part of a future flight opportunity.  Prospect Moon will demonstrate a number of commercial technologies relevant to lunar resources and generate relevant data for future Artemis program use

NASA’s investment in MSolo has resulted in a flight-ready, modular, and highly adaptable instrument able to be integrated with a wide variety of lander and/or rover designs. The MSolo software has already been adapted to interface with four different Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) providers, showcasing its flexibility and readiness for commercial use. The instrument’s architecture, which includes a SHREC-based hybrid computer and a calibration gas system, supports in-situ calibration and real-time volatile analysis, making it a valuable asset for both scientific investigations and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) demonstrations. To capitalize on this capability, NASA is currently building four additional MSolo units using the same configuration-controlled processes developed for Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1 (PRIME-1). The four MSolo instruments will be assembled, undergo a comprehensive performance test with calibration, and tested at the operational thermal limits. These instruments will be flight-ready and will be stored appropriately, ready for rapid integration into upcoming missions. This approach not only reduces cost through economies of scale but also ensures that commercial partners can access proven hardware without the delays typically associated with new instrument development. The MSolo team at Kennedy Space Center has retained all necessary facilities and expertise for integration and calibration, ensuring a seamless path from hardware delivery to mission deployment.

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.