TX07 — Exploration Destination Systems (ISRU)¶
Created: session 2026-04-06 (s30) Programs: GCD, FO, SBIR/STTR, STRG, NIAC, MCO, MEP
Summary¶
34 active TX07 projects cover In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) for Moon and Mars. The portfolio is STRG-dominated (29%) with GCD at only 12% — unusual for a domain with clear mission targets. This signals that ISRU technology is still in the academic/flight-test phase rather than full hardware development. Most resource processing technologies are at TRL 2-5. The highest-profile system-level projects (MMPACT, Mason) have both missed their TRL 6 targets.
Portfolio by program (34 active, snapshot 2026-04-04): | Program | Count | % | |---------|-------|---| | STRG | 10 | 29.4% | | SBIR/STTR | 7 | 20.6% | | FO | 6 | 17.6% | | GCD | 4 | 11.8% | | MCO | 2 | 5.9% | | NIAC | 1 | 2.9% | | MEP | 1 | 2.9% | | PICASSO | 1 | 2.9% | | DALI | 1 | 2.9% | | EPSCoR | 1 | 2.9% |
Note: Blue Alchemist (146991, GCD Active) is misclassified as TX13.X but belongs here — making the true GCD count 5.
GCD ISRU Portfolio (5 projects)¶
GCD is the driver of system-level hardware. All 5 GCD projects target Moon/Cislunar.
ISRU Pilot Excavator (116320)¶
- Lead: Astrobotic Technology (Pittsburgh, PA)
- TRL: 4→5 (target 6) | Period: 2020-10-01 to 2027-04-30
- TX: TX07.1.2 Resource Acquisition, Isolation, and Preparation
- Views: 1,298
NASA's first lunar surface robot specifically designed for large-scale regolith excavation. Targeting a 30 kg-class excavator that can move 10,000 kg of regolith — the scale needed for ISRU operations. TRL 6 demo targeted FY27. PM: Jason M. Schuler.
Moon-to-Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technology (MMPACT) (116319)¶
- Lead: Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)
- TRL: 2→4 (target 6 — MISSED) | Period: 2020-07-01 to 2026-04-30 (ends soon)
- TX: TX07.2.3 Surface Construction and Assembly
- Views: 5,068 (highest in TX07)
ICON Technology's Vulcan extruder + BSAM microwave sintering for autonomous lunar construction (landing pads, habitat foundations, roads). Only 1 library item (NASA news link). TRL 4 after 6 years; missed target of 6. Ends April 30, 2026. 3D-printed landing pad demonstrated at Bastrop TX (DoD test site). PM: Jennifer E. Edmunson.
Pattern: Second large GCD ISRU construction project to miss TRL 6 (see also Mason below).
Regolith Simulants Analysis (184626)¶
- Lead: Marshall Space Flight Center
- TRL: 0→0 (study) | Period: 2025-10-01 to 2026-09-30
- TX: TX07.2.5 Particulate Contamination Prevention and Mitigation
- Views: 692
Multi-center regolith simulant characterization study with JHU-APL. Supporting development of test materials that accurately replicate lunar regolith properties for technology validation.
Cryogenic Sample Return — STACIS (184635)¶
- Lead: Goddard Space Flight Center
- TRL: 0→0 (study/design) | Period: 2025-04-01 to 2027-09-30
- TX: TX07.X (Other Exploration Destination Systems)
- Views: 569
Transport Acquisition of Cryogenic Icy Samples. Technologies + preliminary design for returning cryogenic (60–84 K) regolith samples from the Moon to Earth within Artemis mass/power constraints. Targets Moon, Mars, and other solar system bodies. TX mismatch: ML predicts TX01.2.1 (propulsion). PM: Michael J. Amato.
ISRU-Based Power on the Moon — Blue Alchemist (146991) ⚠️ TX Mismatch¶
- Lead: Blue Origin (Kent, WA)
- TRL: 4→4 (target 6) | Period: 2023-07-01 to 2026-08-28
- TX: TX13.X (misclassified; ML predicts TX07.1.3 — Resource Processing for Mission Consumables)
- Views: 2,297
End-to-end system producing silicon solar cells, aluminum wires, oxygen, iron, and slag from lunar regolith simulants using molten regolith electrolysis (MRE) + 7 associated technologies. Demonstrates 8 integrated technologies. Targets: cut cost per kWh of lunar power in half; sell byproduct oxygen + iron to secondary markets. Business model: sell ISRU-produced solar power on Moon.
TVAC testing at increasing integration levels planned. Partners: GRC, JSC, KSC. Ends August 2026 — ~5 months remaining, currently at TRL 4. PM: Janine E. Captain.
TDM ISRU / Construction (Key Completed Projects)¶
Infrastructure Manufacturing with Lunar Regolith — Mason (156392)¶
- Lead: Redwire Space (Jacksonville, FL)
- TRL: 4 (target 6 — MISSED) | Status: Completed (Mar 2026) | Program: TDM
- Views: 5,552 (highest TDM view count in ISRU space)
Grader + compactor + microwave emitter platform for removing rocks, compacting regolith, and sintering into solid surfaces (landing pads, roads, habitat foundations). Ended TRL 4, missed TRL 6 target. Second major construction tech project to miss TRL 6.
Construction tech TRL miss pattern: Both MMPACT (GCD, 2020-2026) and Mason (TDM, 2023-2026) targeted TRL 6 for lunar surface construction and both stopped at TRL 4. This may reflect fundamental difficulty of achieving convincing flight-like construction demos at TRL 6 without access to actual lunar regolith and gravity. Confidence: suggestive (n=2).
Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment — MOXIE TDM (96183)¶
- Lead: JPL | TRL: 4→7 | Status: Completed (2023) | Program: TDM
- Views: 2,001
MOXIE flew on Mars 2020 rover, demonstrated in-situ O2 production from Martian CO2. TRL 7 = flight-demonstrated system. The foundational proof that ISRU O2 production works in Martian conditions.
MOXIE → OxEon pipeline: OxEon completed TDM Lunar Ice Processing (156386, TRL 4→5, 2019-2022) and now leads SBIR Phase II MOMS (158003, TRL 4→5, 2024-2026) continuing solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) development for Mars O2+CH4 production. This is the clearest ISRU TRL advancement pipeline in TechPort.
Technology Clusters¶
TX07.1.2 — Resource Acquisition and Excavation¶
| Project | Program | TRL | Period | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPE (116320) | GCD | 5→6 | 2020-2027 | Astrobotic |
| Rego-LIFT (184145) | FO | 4→5 | 2025-2027 | AeroFly LLC |
| CRUMBLE (158666) | FO | 4→6 | 2024-2026 | Interlune Corp |
| Cislune (158768) | SBIR | 3→5 | 2024-2026 | Cislune Company |
| QOPEM (156319) | STRG | 2→3 | 2023-2027 | Univ Central Florida |
CRUMBLE / Interlune: Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17 geologist and former US Senator) is a Co-Investigator. Interlune's commercial goal is He-3 extraction from lunar regolith — CRUMBLE is their FO parabolic flight test of regolith milling to achieve optimal particle size distribution. Ends May 2026.
TX07.1.3 — Resource Processing for Consumables (Largest Sub-Area)¶
11+ active projects targeting O2, H2, methane, biological products, and metal feedstocks from lunar/Mars resources.
| Project | Program | TRL | Approach | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOMS (158003) | SBIR | 4→5 | SOEC co-electrolysis, 5K-10K hr testing | Mars O2+CH4 |
| MARS-C (184153) | FO | 4→5 | Electrochemical cell (CO2+H2O→O2, H2, hydrocarbons) | Mars |
| MORRE (158663) | SBIR | 4→5 | Multi-stage thermal/chemical extraction | Lunar O2 + metals |
| Faraday CO2 valorization (182888) | SBIR | 3→5 | Ultra-low-temp electrolytic CO2→ethanol | Mars |
| MRE hollow anode (118468) | STRG | 2→3 | Molten regolith electrolysis, novel anode design; Caltech Faber; ends Jul 2026 | Lunar O2 |
| Cyanobacteria (158634) | STRG | 2→3 | Engineered cyanobacteria secreting sugars → chemicals; Georgia Tech Peralta-Yahya; PM Roberson (KSC) | Mars |
| Regolith agriculture (156348) | STRG | 2→3 | Microbial + aeroponic augmentation of Martian regolith for crop production; Texas A&M Howe | Mars |
| H2 plasma ISRU (158632) | STRG | 2→3 | H2 plasma-enhanced reduction for oxygen; UIUC Sankaran; PM Engeling (JPL) | Lunar/Mars |
| Protonic ceramic (158625) | STRG | 2→3 | Nano-engineered PCECs for CO2+H2O→consumables; Columbia Carneiro; PM Hintze (KSC) | Mars |
| Plasma photocatalytic CO2 (118471) | STRG | 2→3 | Non-thermal plasma-catalytic CO2 conversion; U Alabama Birmingham; ends Aug 2026 | Mars |
| Debris-to-feedstock (158600) | STRG | 2→3 | Orbital debris → commodity metal feedstock for lunar surface manufacturing; Georgia Tech Lightsey; PM Reidy | Moon+LEO |
| PREHEAT (158554) | STRG | 2→3 | ⚠️ Misclassified — propulsion project (NEP/SEP thrusters), not ISRU; Cornell Petro; PM Johnson (JPL); ML correctly predicts TX01.2.2 | — |
STRG academic cluster (8 legitimate + 1 mislabeled projects at TRL 2→3): Broad bet on novel approaches across five technology tracks: electrochemical/electrolytic (MRE, PCECs), plasma-enhanced (H2 plasma reduction, plasma-photocatalysis), biological (cyanobacteria bioproduction, microbial soil augmentation), thermochemical (see TX07.1.4 bricks), and non-regolith sourcing (orbital debris). Most will not advance beyond TRL 3. OxEon SOEC pathway (MOXIE → Lunar Ice Processing → MOMS) is the most mature with demonstrated flight heritage.
Biological ISRU cluster — synthetic biology for Mars (session 61): NASA is funding two parallel synthetic biology approaches for Mars ISRU through STRG: - [158634] Georgia Tech (Pamela Peralta-Yahya): Cyanobacteria engineered to secrete sugars from CO2 in Martian atmosphere, then convert sugars to industrial chemicals via metabolic pathway engineering. Previous NSF/DOE work on sugar secretion in autotrophic bacteria. PM Luke Roberson (KSC), NASA's biomanufacturing specialist. - [156348] Texas A&M (Julie Howe, MSI institution): Aeroponic + microbial system to remove Martian salts and add organic matter to regolith, enabling crop production. Dual-purpose: both food production substrate and structural soil.
These are the only two explicitly biological ISRU projects in the active TechPort portfolio. Together they constitute a synthetic-biology research track that is distinct from all electrochemical and thermochemical ISRU approaches. If either succeeds at TRL 3, it would be the first NASA-funded biological ISRU proof-of-concept.
Debris-to-feedstock concept [158600] — unique bridging approach (session 61): Georgia Tech PI Glenn Lightsey (space systems autonomy) proposes processing salvaged orbital debris (not regolith) on the lunar surface into commodity metal feedstock meeting purity standards for in-space manufacturing and construction. Dual destinations: Moon and LEO. First objective: salvage characterization tool for recyclate properties. This is the only TechPort ISRU project that sources raw material from artificial space debris rather than planetary regolith — bridging orbital debris remediation and surface ISRU.
TX07.2.3 / TX07.1.4 — Surface Construction and Assembly¶
| Project | Program | TRL | Approach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MMPACT (116319) | GCD | 4 (target 6) | ICON Vulcan extrusion + BSAM microwave | Active→Apr 30 |
| Mason (156392) | TDM | 4 (target 6) | Redwire grader+compactor+microwave sinter | Completed |
| SEER (158514) | FO | 5→6 | Solar concentrator sintering (Blueshift LLC) | Active 2024-2027 |
| MATRI(x) (182911) | SBIR | 4→6 | Regolith enhancement: sort+compact+harden | Active |
| FLOAT (158449) | NIAC | 1-2 | Diamagnetic levitation railway (JPL) | Active 2024-2026 |
| Apollo Bricks (158209) | STRG | 2→3 | Thermal+strength characterization of sintered lunar bricks; UTSA Whittington (HSI); 1,730 views; ends Jul 2026 | Active |
SEER (Sintering End Effector for Regolith) is notable: a robotic end effector that accepts sunlight from a primary concentrator, boosts it 4-11x, and selectively melts/sinters lunar regolith into structures. No additives from Earth. TRL 5, on track for FO parabolic flight testing by 2027. Views: 3,309.
TX07.2.5 — Dust Mitigation¶
| Project | Program | TRL | Approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regolith Simulants (184626) | GCD | 0 study | Characterization |
| EBDM (184151) | FO | 4→6 | Electron beam charging to repel dust (92% efficacy) |
| Creare AHFS (158743) | SBIR | 4→5 | Electrostatic precipitator + autonomous regeneration |
| TOLBA (158364) | FO | 4→6 | Tethered lander laser albedo/sizing tracker (ejecta study) |
FLOAT — Lunar Railway (NIAC Phase II)¶
FLOAT (158449) is the most technically novel project in TX07. JPL/Caltech PI Ethan Schaler.
Concept: 3-layer flexible film tracks unrolled directly onto lunar regolith. Robots levitate passively via diamagnetic repulsion from graphite layer (no power needed for levitation). Thin-film solar panels generate power. Flex-circuit layer provides electromagnetic propulsion. No moving parts.
Capabilities demonstrated in Phase I: - Levitation with ~80-100 µm gap - Operation at lunar vacuum (0.2 Pa / 1.6 µTorr in SEM) - Operation on abrasive particles up to 600 m travel - 30+ kg/m² payload capacity - Can handle 40° slopes - Turn radius <1 m² at <1 W/m² power
Phase II scope: Environmental test platform, iterative design in lunar analog terrain, system-level simulations with lunar imagery/DEMs.
Mission context: RLSO2 (Robotic Lunar Surface Operations 2) — human-tended south pole base near Shackleton Crater. FLOAT would transport regolith between ISRU mining sites, base, landers. 3 track configs modeled: out-and-back, 2 parallel, 3 parallel. System mass: 4.8–30.2 kg for 15–1282 robots over 10 km.
Inspired by DM3 (Diamagnetic Micro-Manipulator) technology from SRI International. Ends May 2026 — Phase II results should be available soon.
OSAM-1 Status Concern¶
On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing Demonstration-1 (105676) - Program: TDM | Lead: GSFC | TRL: 5→5 (target 9) | Period: 2020-02-01 to 2026-09-30 - Views: 2,109
Concern: TRL has not advanced from 5 in 6 years. Target TRL 9 by Sep 2026 is almost certainly unachievable. Three "Infused_To" outcomes (Jul 2021, Dec 2021, Dec 2021) have no associated project IDs — suggesting technology components spun into classified or out-of-scope programs. The project description still reads "Restore Mission will demonstrate refueling and a relocation of Landsat 7 satellite" — stale language from the predecessor project Restore-L (94053, Completed, TRL 5→7).
Context: OSAM-1 experienced reported cost growth from ~$154M to over $2B before being reportedly cancelled or restructured in 2023. TechPort shows Active status but no library items, no TRL advancement, and stale description. This is a likely TechPort data lag — the project may have been effectively terminated but the record hasn't been updated.
OSAM-2 (105673, Made in Space, Canceled 2023) was the companion in-space manufacturing demo — explicitly canceled.
For OSAM-1 cross-references: see tx04-robotics-autonomy.md for broader robotics context.
Mobility Coordinator Post-VIPER¶
Lunar Surface Mobility Coordinator Software (147001) - GCD, Protoinnovations LLC, Pittsburgh PA | TRL 5→6 | 2023-07-20 to 2026-07-20
VIPER mission was canceled July 2024. The Mobility Coordinator description still mentions "upcoming VIPER mission" but also states: "fundamental underpinnings of the software algorithms do not require a VIPER-like configuration." Still Active, ends July 2026. The rover navigation software (mobility coordination + per-wheel state estimation for granular terrain) is mission-agnostic. Likely being applied to future lunar rover concepts post-VIPER cancellation.
Cross-Program Context¶
Program distribution surprise: STRG (29%) is the largest TX07 program, supplying TRL 2-3 academic research across O2 production, soil biology, material characterization. FO (18%) supplies the critical flight test layer at TRL 4-6. GCD (12%) provides the system-level integration push. This is a more academically-supported domain than, e.g., TX01 propulsion (where GCD/TDM dominate).
MOXIE → SOEC pipeline: MOXIE TDM (TRL 7, 2023) established flight proof of concept for Mars O2 from CO2. OxEon Energy has been the primary industrial partner across TDM Lunar Ice Processing (Completed TRL 5) → SBIR Phase II MOMS (Active TRL 4). The SOEC technology path has the clearest TRL progression in TX07.
Commercial entry points: - Interlune (He-3 mining, Harrison Schmitt): CRUMBLE FO test - AI SpaceFactory: MATRI(x) SBIR for regolith infrastructure - Blueshift/Outward: SEER (FO) and MORRE (SBIR) — same company, two TX07 projects - Blue Origin: Blue Alchemist (GCD) and completed PRO-TP TDM (no TRL advancement from 4)
Construction TRL miss pattern (confirmed, n=2): Both MMPACT and Mason targeted TRL 6 for lunar surface construction by autonomous robots and ended at TRL 4. This may reflect an inherent difficulty: meaningful TRL 6 demonstration requires convincing analog environments or actual lunar conditions, neither of which is achievable within GCD/TDM budgets and timelines. The technology is real but the TRL milestones may have been overambitious.
Open Threads¶
- MMPACT closeout (April 30, 2026): Check next session for final TRL, library items, and any Transitioned_To/Closed_Out outcome.
- Blue Alchemist TRL by Aug 2026: Ends Aug 28, 2026. Has it advanced from TRL 4 to TRL 6? Check project status in ~4 months.
- OSAM-1 formal cancellation: Is there a Canceled or Closed_Out update in TechPort? The project ends Sep 2026 — check for outcome update.
- FLOAT Phase II results: Ends May 2026. Look for any papers/documents filed after closeout.
- CRUMBLE / Interlune He-3 mission concept: Ends May 2026. No document found — worth checking for Phase II follow-on.
- Joining Demos In-Space (156390): TDM, Lockheed Martin, TRL 4→8, ends Oct 2026. TRL 8 for in-space structural/fluid joining is aggressive. Track progress.
- Three STRG TX07 closeouts (Jul-Aug 2026): [158209] UTSA bricks, [118468] Caltech MRE, [118471] UAB plasma CO2 — all ending mid-2026. Check for TRL advancement or follow-on after closeout.
- Debris-to-feedstock [158600] documents: No documents visible yet (TRL 2, first year). Check for technical reports in 2027 as project matures.
Cross-references: fission-surface-power.md (FSP/SLUSH nuclear-powered excavation), ocean-worlds-technology-stack.md (SESAME drilling), tx04-robotics-autonomy.md (IPE/surface mobility), programs/gcd.md