Request for Information (RFI) Enabling Commercial Lunar Transportation to Support a Sustained Lunar Base

NASA’s George C. Marshall Space Flight Center issued RFI 26‑01‑PS70 (issued Mar 24 2026, response due Apr 23 2026) to gather information from established commercial providers and new entrants on end‑to‑end lunar transportation systems that will deliver crew to an orbital transfer point (e.g., NRHO or an alternative staging orbit) and return to Earth, supporting a launch cadence of one crewed surface mission per provider per year and enabling a permanent, continuously crewed U.S. lunar base. Respondents must describe a complete human‑transport architecture—including launch, Earth‑lunar trajectories, crew‑transfer locations, and optional secondary scientific or technology‑demonstration payload capability—while addressing autonomous, loiter, quiescent, or dormant operations, the feasibility of manual crew control during selected phases, and interoperability with existing and future Human Landing System (HLS) providers (rendezvous, proximity operations, docking, interface standards, and software/hardware test emulation). The RFI also requires discussion of certification strategy (NASA standards, commercial frameworks, or hybrid), safety and abort approaches, hazard control, high‑tempo manufacturing and reuse scalability, phased uncrewed and crewed demonstration plans with ROM cost estimates, and sensitivity of launch cadence and surface duration on unit cost. Additional expectations include evolution pathways from the current Artemis architecture to a commercially sustainable system, identification of technology maturity levels and mitigation of low‑TRL risks, domestic sourcing compliance, potential non‑NASA customers and market synergies, and assumptions regarding contracting, data rights, NASA‑owned tooling/facilities, and mission‑operations transitions. Respondents must outline any teaming or subcontracting arrangements, how their concepts leverage NASA Center resources, and provide an executive summary of core capabilities, relevant human‑spaceflight experience, distinguishing attributes, and proposed partnerships. Submissions are limited to a 2‑page executive summary and a 10‑page detailed response (PDF only) per the specified file‑naming convention. This RFI is informational only and does not constitute a solicitation.

Notice ID

75a571f0a6ac4739b25e618c1f0e4d9f

Solicitation Number

26-01-PS70

NAICS Code

N/A

Classification Code

N/A