NASA seeks lunar payload concepts for expanded CLPS missions

WASHINGTON - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is requesting industry and research input on potential lunar payloads as it plans a major expansion of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, aiming to increase landing cadence to as many as 10 missions per year beginning in 2027.

The request for information (RFI) will help NASA determine how to allocate government-sponsored payload space on future CLPS deliveries in 2027, 2028, and beyond. Under the CLPS model, NASA procures end-to-end commercial delivery services to the Moon, with industry partners responsible for launch, landing, and payload integration.

NASA says it will cover delivery costs for selected payloads, including launch, lunar landing, and surface operations support. CLPS providers will supply key services such as power, communications, thermal control, and, in some cases, survive-the-lunar-night capabilities using systems like radioisotope heating units. The agency notes that most CLPS missions will use stationary landers designed to operate for approximately one lunar day, or about 14 Earth days, with landing sites expected primarily in the lunar south polar region, as well as equatorial, mid-latitude, and far-side locations.

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Ready to launch tech

The agency is particularly interested in "ready-to-fly" payloads requiring minimal additional development, as well as medium-term concepts that could be flight-ready within four to six years. Payloads may include instruments, sensors, position, navigation, and timing systems, rovers, and in-situ resource utilization technologies, as well as orbital payloads compatible with lunar or Mars missions.

NASA is also highlighting several specific technology areas of interest for lunar science and surface operations. These include systems capable of surviving and operating through the lunar night, when temperatures can drop below -170 degrees Celsius, and solar power is unavailable. The agency is interested in radioisotope power systems and other nuclear-enabled technologies to provide continuous energy and thermal management during extended darkness.

Additional areas of focus include freezer technologies designed for preserving and returning samples collected in extremely cold lunar environments, particularly in permanently shadowed regions. NASA is also seeking technologies that enable rapid and autonomous long-distance traversal for lunar rovers, which would require advanced navigation, hazard avoidance, and energy management capabilities to operate across challenging terrain.

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The RFI also introduces a planned public Lunar Payload Database, where respondents may opt to list their payload concepts to connect with potential partners, funders, and CLPS providers. NASA intends the database to support coordination across the emerging lunar economy and encourage collaboration among commercial, academic, and international stakeholders.

Moon-to-Mars

The effort aligns with NASA’s broader Moon-to-Mars exploration strategy under the Artemis program, which calls for sustained lunar operations and development of a long-term surface presence later this decade. NASA’s Science Mission Directorate is leading the RFI, with coordination across the Exploration Systems Development, Space Technology, and Space Operations mission directorates.

The agency is also seeking payloads that address key Moon-to-Mars objectives, including lunar volatile characterization, space weather monitoring, surface power generation, precision landing, mobility systems, and resource extraction.

Responses are due by 14 May 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EDT through NASA’s NSPIRES system. The agency named Dr. Brad Bailey as the primary point of contact for this project. They can be reached via email at [email protected]. More information is available at https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/a583f17cc71e45f7bfda883946a014ca/view.