(magma) molten aluminum generation for manufacturing additively
Ended Grant For Research Awarded Last action
- Contract number
- 80NSSC24K0129
- Awardee
-
Trustees Of The Colorado School Of Mines UEI JW2NGMP4NMA3
- Awarding agency
-
Shared Services Center
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Obligated
- $1,975,970
Award facts
- Contract value 100% obligated
- $1,975,970.00 Current and potential, with all options
- Completion date 100% complete
- Current and potential, with all options
- Contracting staff
- NAICS code
- Not on record
- PSC
- AJ11 General Science And Technology R&D Services; General Science And Technology; Basic Research
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
- Competition
- Full and Open Competition Basic Research
- Pricing
- Other
- Place of performance
- Golden, CO, USA
Award details come from SAM.gov/FPDS.
Transactions
| Action | Obligated | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Other Administrative Action | $0 | |
| Funding Only Action | $870,300 | |
| Other Administrative Action | $0 | |
| Original award | $1,105,670 |
About this award
The Trustees of the Colorado School of Mines received a $1.98M grant award for research under the Lunar Unified Surface Technology Research (LUSTR) solicitation to advance molten regolith electrolysis (MRE) technology for lunar manufacturing applications. In collaboration with industry partner Lunar Resources, Colorado School of Mines will develop and demonstrate a tapping system capable of repeatedly extracting molten metals from an MRE reactor and directly integrating them into a lunar wire casting system. The project will culminate in an end-to-end vacuum demonstration producing high-purity aluminum wire suitable for additive manufacturing applications. The contract is not set aside for any specific business type and is scheduled for completion by July 31, 2026.
The research effort will progress through multiple development phases, beginning with systems engineering requirements review, materials compatibility analyses, and multi-physics modeling to predict performance and lifespan. Colorado School of Mines will then fabricate and test tap system prototypes using relevant molten materials at its foundry facility, followed by integration of the downselected design with Lunar Resources' MRE reactor for the final vacuum demonstration. The resulting aluminum wire will be characterized for purity, microstructure, and suitability for additive manufacturing. This project addresses a critical gap in lunar resource utilization technology, as while MRE reactor core systems have been demonstrated at commercial scale, the secondary casting and material extraction processes remain less mature and require further advancement.
Quick answers
Who was awarded contract 80NSSC24K0129?
80NSSC24K0129 was awarded to Trustees Of The Colorado School Of Mines by Shared Services Center (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) on October 30, 2023.
How much is contract 80NSSC24K0129 worth?
The government has obligated $1,975,970 on 80NSSC24K0129.
Was contract 80NSSC24K0129 competed?
The extent of competition for 80NSSC24K0129 was full and open competition.
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