Source report. A new proposal call focuses on the systems needed to make lunar surface activity possible.
Source: NASA. Original source published 8 September 2026. Published on Alder Atlas: 14 September 2026.
The supporting systems get attention
NASA announced a request for proposals on 8 September for technologies supporting lunar surface operations. The call sits under NextSTEP-3 and covers areas including power, oxygen production from lunar material and advanced manufacturing.
Beyond the spacecraft
The solicitation includes solar and radioisotope power approaches alongside other infrastructure technologies. These are systems intended to help future activity continue on the surface, rather than simply reach it. US-led teams may include international participation under the programme’s conditions.
A competition, not a completed installation
The announcement invites proposals; it does not announce that a lunar power system has been built or that particular teams have won funding. Selection decisions and later technical demonstrations will show which approaches move forward. Applicants should consult the linked NASA material for the actual solicitation and its requirements.
Sources & further reading
This is an independently worded, source-based report prepared with AI assistance for the Alder Atlas editorial project. It is not first-hand reporting.