NASA Unveils NextSTEP-3 Draft Solicitation to Accelerate Key Lunar and Cislunar Technologies

WASHINGTON — In a major step toward cementing a permanent human footprint on and around the Moon, NASA issued a draft Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) under NextSTEP-3, Appendix A, on June 29, 2026. The solicitation is designed to spur the development of critical systems required for sustainable lunar surface operations and the broader cislunar infrastructure. By targeting key technological gaps, the agency aims to accelerate the transition of conceptual designs into flight-ready hardware for upcoming Artemis missions.

The draft solicitation outlines several high-priority technological frontiers essential for long-duration survival in the harsh lunar environment. Among the primary focus areas are:

• Vertical Solar Arrays: Critical for capturing sunlight at the lunar south pole, where the sun hovers extremely low on the horizon.
• In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Oxygen Production Systems: Technologies designed to extract oxygen from lunar regolith, enabling local production of life-support consumables and rocket propellant.
• Stirling Radioisotope Generators (SRGs): Next-generation, high-efficiency power systems capable of providing continuous, reliable electricity during the freezing, 14-day-long lunar nights.
• In-Space Systems: Advanced thermal control, storage, and transfer mechanisms necessary to support operations between the Earth and the Moon.

Historically, NASA’s Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP) program has utilized a public-private partnership model to stimulate commercial innovation for deep-space exploration. By issuing this draft under NextSTEP-3, NASA is seeking to leverage the rapidly growing commercial space sector to share development costs and expedite deployment. "Establishing a robust lunar infrastructure requires pioneering technology that cannot be built by the government alone," said a representative from NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. "Through these partnerships, we are maturing the foundational capabilities that will allow astronauts to live and work on the Moon while building a sustainable marketplace in cislunar space."

The release of the draft BAA initiated an industry feedback period, allowing potential commercial and academic partners to review technical requirements and submit comments before the final solicitation is published. This collaborative approach ensures that NASA's engineering requirements align with commercial capabilities, ultimately lowering costs and shortening development timelines. Successful proposals resulting from the final BAA will play a pivotal role in shifting the Artemis program from short-term exploratory visits to a permanent, scalable lunar presence.