Directed-Call 2 Surface Mating Systems.pdf

NextSTEP-3 Appendix B

Directed-Topic Call 2 - Surface Mating Systems

2 October 2026

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas 77058

Directed-Topic Call #2 Surface Mating System

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1.0 Overview

NASA is setting up a Moon Base at the lunar South Pole with multiple habitat and logistics elements mated (aka docked) together. Unlike orbital docking systems long used by ISS and its visiting vehicles, lunar Surface Mating Systems (SMS) will face new challenges unique to the lunar surface including the Moon’s gravity, uneven terrain, extreme temperatures, and regolith dust. The lunar SMS will be designed to connect habitat elements (e.g., Multi-Purpose Habitat, Node, Airlock) and logistics elements (e.g., Mated Carrier) in the lunar South Pole environment during Phase 3 of the Moon Base build-up, making it a critical element in the development, habitability, sustainability and expansion of the Moon Base.

This SMS Directed Call is strategically intended to reduce risks by developing early concepts and ground demonstrations of full system and/or subsystem elements. By testing innovative SMS concepts on Earth, the project enables early identification and mitigation of potential technical and operational barriers, informing future government flight SMS standards, interfaces and subsystems. This approach ensures that the SMS will be ready to support the challenging needs of Moon Base Phase 3 development and meet the unique demands of lunar exploration.

2.0 Objectives

The primary objective of this Directed Call is to design and develop new SMS concepts, culminating in a ground demonstration by September 30, 2027. Offerors shall propose a complete end-to-end SMS concept that meets the capabilities listed in the attached Ground Rules, Assumptions, & Constraints (GRAC) document. Offerors may propose ground demonstrations of a scaled version of the full SMS concept and/or demonstrations of higher-fidelity SMS sub-systems within the proposed concept. Successful concepts and demonstrations will be expected to meet or exceed the metrics listed in Section 3.0 below.

The systems acquired under this Directed Call are expected to be functional laboratory prototypes for ground demonstration. They are not intended for flight demonstrations proving performance in the actual lunar environment, which may be the focus of future procurements informed by FY27 ground demonstration activities.

3.0 Concept Metrics and Ground Rules, Assumptions & Constraints (GRAC) This Directed Call seeks SMS concepts that support the Moon Base architecture in Phase 3 and beyond while prioritizing the following metrics or figures of merit:

1. Minimizing mass of the overall system and mass impacts to Moon Base architecture

2. Robustness and reliability in the lunar South Pole environment

3. Capability to overcome misalignment during lunar surface mating

4. Compliance to loads during mating and sustained surface operations

5. Ability to be technically mature to support Phase 3 timeline

While detailed requirements are immature and could unnecessarily impede innovation at this early stage, Offerors should use the attached Ground Rules, Assumptions and Constraints (GRAC) document, organized by mission phase, that also provides key performance parameter thresholds and goals. Offerors shall identify the ground rules, assumptions, or constraints that present risks to their concept development with clear rationale and, where applicable, suggest viable alternatives to mitigate associated risks. These metrics, GRACs, key performance parameters and demonstrations along with Moon Base architecture maturation will inform future SMS detailed requirements and interface standards.

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4.0 Configurations

Due to the evolving capabilities of lunar landers, mobility vehicles, habitation elements, and budget availability, Offerors must design for flexibility and clearly articulate the operational boundaries of their systems. Offerors must outline the technical approach for their selected SMS configuration(s):

A. Configuration A: Standalone SMS is launched separate from the element that it will eventually mate to and is offloaded from the lander onto a mobility vehicle for transport to the habitat/logistics element. A standalone SMS must have two active interfaces—the portion of the mating mechanism that contains the powered, actuated, and controlled components responsible for initiating, guiding, and securing the mating process. A standalone SMS is used to convert a habitation element with a passive interface—the receiving or mating interface that is generally fixed or minimally actuated—to an active interface or to connect two elements with passive interfaces together.

B. Configuration B: Hosted / Integrated SMS is pre-integrated into the habitat/logistics element and relies on shared infrastructure. It consists of an active interface on one habitation element and a passive interface on the other element, or both elements could have an androgynous interface – both mating interfaces are mechanically identical and capable of functioning interchangeably as either active or passive. An androgynous interface can connect to a duplicate of itself, increasing operational flexibility and interoperability.

Offerors may propose concepts for one or both configurations. For each configuration proposed, offerors must clearly articulate the physical resource constraints (mass, volume, footprint) and interface requirements (data, thermal, electrical) their systems will impose on the delivery lander and mobility vehicle.

5.0 Demonstration Context

The Offeror will develop a complete SMS concept but may select major elements or mechanisms from their concept for a physical (not virtual) sub-scale demonstration of its primary autonomous or remotely operated functions and mechanisms at their facility (not required to be at NASA JSC). Demonstrations are intended to be mechanically and robotically functional but are not required to support Human In The Loop (HITL) testing. The Offeror will allow NASA to observe the demonstration(s).

6.0 Deliverables

The Offeror will provide a monthly status to NASA allowing NASA to assess progress of the design concept and demonstration work. In addition, three deliverables are due from the Offeror by September 30, 2027, and will be included in an outbrief package to NASA:

• Concept Study – The Offeror will provide a Concept Study that includes the system overview, SMS interfaces, component definition, preliminary estimates for mass, volume, and power, preliminary concept of operations, required maintenance items and consumables, lander and mobility vehicle assumptions, impacts to other lunar surface elements, tasks requiring crew Intravehicular Activity (IVA) and Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) support or Intravehicular Robotics (IVR) and Extravehicular Robotics (EVR) support, long-lead procurement strategy, required ground support equipment, technology assessment for current Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and maturation strategy, and recommended NASA application of NASA Government Furnished Equipment / Property (GFE/GFP) and subject matter expertise.

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• GRAC Feedback – The Offeror will provide feedback in the form of redlines and comments to NASA-provided GRAC document, based upon the Offeror’s concept.

• Risk Study – The Offeror will provide an integrated assessment of technical and programmatic (cost, schedule) risk, as well as a proposed risk management strategy for each system.

7.0 Submission Schedule

Interested Offerors should review the full NextSTEP-3 BAA Appendix B (Moon Base Concept Demonstrations) requirements and submit complete white papers by 5:00PM CT on October 16, 2026, to be considered for full proposal invitations and possible contract awards. Visit SAM.gov for up-to-date information on submission dates and times which take precedence over the schedule below. The announcement on SAM.gov can be found under Solicitation

#80MSFC26R0003.

Schedule for Directed Call for SMS Ground Demonstration Directed-Call 2 Questions Due October 6, 2026 Step 1: White Papers Due October 16, 2026