Key Takeaways
- NASA awarded Interlune a $6.9 million Phase III SBIR contract to mature lunar‑resource prospecting technology.
- The effort leverages NASA’s MSOLO mass spectrometer, originally developed for the Intuitive Machines 2 mission, as a core component for extracting volatiles from regolith.
- Interlune will design, build, and test engineering units that collect, sort, and analyze lunar soil to measure hydrogen, helium‑3, and other solar‑wind gases.
- The project builds on prior Flight Opportunities work where Interlune tested payload prototypes in simulated lunar gravity.
- MSOLO’s hybrid computer, onboard calibration system, and software adaptability enable its use across multiple CLPS lander designs and ground‑test configurations.
- By advancing in‑situ resource utilization (ISRU) tools, NASA aims to reduce launch mass, lower mission costs, and support sustainable Artemis‑era exploration.
- NASA’s SBIR/STTR program, managed by the Space Technology Mission Directorate, continues to foster small‑business innovation through a new Broad Agency Announcement framework for 2026‑2027.
Overview of the NASA‑Interlune Partnership
NASA has awarded Interlune of Seattle a firm‑fixed‑price contract valued at $6.9 million for the next eighteen months. The award comes through a Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) agreement, a funding mechanism intended to transition promising technologies into NASA missions or commercial markets. Interlune’s focus is on developing natural‑resource extraction capabilities beyond Earth, specifically targeting the Moon’s regolith for in‑situ resource utilization (ISRU).
Goals of the ISRU Initiative
The central objective of this effort is to enable long‑duration lunar and Martian missions by harvesting locally available materials such as water ice, hydrogen, and helium‑3. By converting regolith‑derived volatiles into propellants, power sources, or life‑support consumables, astronauts can decrease reliance on Earth‑launched supplies. This self‑sufficiency reduces launch mass, lowers mission complexity, and enhances the feasibility of sustained human presence on the Moon and Mars.
Technology Heritage: From MSOLO to Commercial Use
Interlune’s payload will incorporate a mass spectrometer inspired by NASA’s Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSOLO) instrument. MSOLO was created at Kennedy Space Center under the Game Changing Development program and flew on the Intuitive Machines 2 mission to the lunar south pole in 2025, proving its ability to operate in lunar conditions. The instrument’s compact, rugged design makes it suitable for repeated use on the lunar surface, and NASA has now made MSOLO available for commercial adaptation.
Capabilities of the Interlune Payload
Under the SBIR Phase III contract, Interlune will design, build, and test engineering development units and eventual flight hardware. The system is engineered to scoop lunar regolith, separate particles by size, and extract solar‑wind‑implanted volatile gases such as hydrogen and helium‑3. A mass‑spectrometer module will then quantify the released gases, providing critical data on resource abundance and distribution. This end‑to‑end process mirrors the steps needed for practical ISRU operations on the Moon.
Adaptability and Ground‑Test Flexibility
MSOLO’s internal architecture includes a hybrid computer for onboard data processing and a built‑in calibration gas system that allows the instrument to verify and adjust its readings directly on the lunar surface. Its software has already been adapted to interface with four different Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) lander designs, demonstrating considerable flexibility. This adaptability means the same core hardware can be employed for ground‑testing, various flight configurations, and multiple commercial lander platforms, accelerating technology maturation.
Building on Prior Flight Opportunities Work
Before the SBIR award, Interlune participated in NASA’s Flight Opportunities program, where it built and tested payload prototypes on parabolic flights that mimicked lunar gravity. Those early tests validated mechanical concepts and helped refine the regolith‑handling mechanisms now being scaled up for the SBIR effort. The flight‑heritage reduces risk and provides a solid foundation for the upcoming engineering‑unit demonstrations.
Strategic Importance for Artemis and Beyond
Investing in lunar surface ISRU technologies aligns with NASA’s broader Artemis strategy to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon. By enabling astronauts to produce fuel, power, and life‑support resources locally, the agency can cut the cost and logistical burden of deep‑space missions. The commercialization of MSOLO‑derived tools through partnerships like the one with Interlune exemplifies how NASA seeks to mature transformative technologies and hand them over to industry for broader application.
NASA’s SBIR/STTR Program and Future Opportunities
The SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, overseen by the Space Technology Mission Directorate, provide funding and non‑monetary support to U.S. small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. This year the agency is adopting a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) framework for the 2026‑2027 cycle to increase opportunities and enhance agility. The BAA appendices, detailing desired technology topics, close on May 21, 2026. Interested entities are encouraged to consult NASA’s information hub for application guidance at https://www.nasa.gov/stmd-solicitations-and-opportunities/.
Conclusion
The Interlune contract represents a concrete step toward operational ISRU on the Moon. By maturing a proven NASA mass spectrometer and integrating it into a regolith‑processing payload, the project aims to deliver reliable, flight‑ready tools for prospecting and extracting vital lunar volatiles. Success will not only support Artemis missions but also lay groundwork for future Mars exploration, where utilizing local resources will be indispensable for long‑term human settlement.