Materials-Limited Technologies for the Moon and Mars

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. NO PROPOSALS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) to post a request for information to allow industry the opportunity to provide input on potential technologies to apply to space technology shortfalls, to gain industry feedback, and to gauge interest in potential areas of collaboration.

This request is for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation.  This is not an offer or commitment by the Government to enter into a contract or other type of agreement. 

Background

NASA’s current space exploration focus is on returning to the Moon and onwards to Mars. These missions require novel technologies and concepts that enable extended mission durations for human and robotic exploration in challenging environments beyond the capabilities of state-of-the-art space exploration technologies. To this end, NASA has identified 187 Civil Space Shortfalls. NASA has also conducted surveys to establish the shortfall ranking. The descriptions and ranking of the shortfalls are both available at https://www.nasa.gov/spacetechpriorities/.

Novel technologies and concepts applicable to these shortfalls may be limited by structural materials challenges. The materials limitations could stem from a lack of adequate material performance, the extremes of the space or Lunar and Martian surface environments (thermal, radiation, dust, vacuum, surface charging, micrometeoroid impacts, etc.), or combinations thereof. For such materials-limited technologies, new or enhanced materials and/or advances in materials processing are required with improvements in the performance of a single material property class, improvements in multiple material property classes (multifunctionality), or novel combinations of materials (composite or hybrid materials).

Ground Rules

The purpose of this RFI is to seek information on potential technologies that address one or more of the high-ranking NASA Civil Space Shortfalls but are hindered by structural materials challenges. Sought technologies and concepts can be at any level of development as long as they are consistent with NASA’s Moon to Mars focus. Technologies and concepts from any application domain are acceptable for this RFI, provided the critical materials limitation is structural in nature. These application domains include, but are not limited to, power generation and distribution, propulsion, electrical systems, radiation protection, structural health monitoring, and maintenance functions in addition to functions that are primarily structural. Specifically, this RFI seeks information on technologies and concepts that can be enabled by advances in non-metallic materials. This does not exclude hybrid or composite materials that contain metallic constituents if the advances needed are primarily in the non-metallic constituents.

Technologies and concepts of interest include, but are not limited to:

• New technologies and concepts that can only be realized with materials innovations and/or advances in materials processing
• Existing technologies and concepts not typically used for space applications that could address the shortfalls if enabled by new materials
• New or existing technologies and concepts requiring innovative materials testing capabilities to prove their utility for space applications.

Responses to this RFI may be used to inform a potential future opportunity for advancement of technologies and concepts that are materials-limited. Respondents may choose to address any or all topics and may add additional content to topics as they see necessary.

Topics for Industry Response

1. What is a materials-limited technology or concept and how would it address one or more high-ranking NASA Civil Space Shortfalls? Provide a brief summary of the materials-limited technology or concept.
2. Are there non-metallic structural material advances that can enable this technology or concept? Provide a brief description of the materials challenges that currently hinder this technology in relation to space applications.
3. What is the current state of development of this technology or concept (conceptual sketch, already prototyped, already in use in a non-space application)?
4. What are the materials requirements for this technology to be successful?
5. What previous experience or current capabilities would your organizational team offer in support of a potential future opportunity? What future capabilities would your organizational team seek to enhance or develop in a potential future opportunity?
6. What level of support or resources would your team need from NASA or other federal agencies. What types of resources would be required (e.g., subject matter experts, testing, processing, materials development, etc.)?
7. Are there any reasons concerns that would deter your organizational team from responding to a future proposal?

Response Instructions

This information is requested for planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response. NASA does not intend to award a contract, Space Act Agreement (SAA), or any other legal implementing instrument in response to submissions received from this RFI. The information provided is entirely voluntary and will not affect the ability to propose on future opportunities.

No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of a solicitation. If a solicitation is released in the future, it will be synopsized on the Government Point of Entry website SAM.gov.

It is the responsibility of interested parties to monitor these sites regularly for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.

Respondents are encouraged to limit the amount of proprietary, privileged or confidential information included in their responses to this RFI.  Respondents should clearly mark any information in the proposal that they consider proprietary, privileged or confidential.   No Personally Identifiable Information (PII) should be submitted in response to this RFI. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this Request for Information for Materials-Limited Technologies for the Moon and Mars. NASA intends to consider all data received to inform future planning.

Please note that NASA employees and other government agencies as well as its support contractors’ employees and/or their subcontractors working on behalf of NASA may review respondent’s submissions. NASA contractors and subcontractors are governed by non-disclosure provisions in their applicable contracts and subcontracts, which protects the confidentiality of all information reviewed. Responses to this RFI will not be returned, and respondents will not be notified of the results of the review.

All responses shall be submitted electronically via email to Godfrey Sauti (godfrey.sauti-1@nasa.gov), John Gardner (john.m.gardner@nasa.gov) and Benjamin Jensen (benjamin.d.jensen@nasa.gov) no later than 5:00 PM EDT January 23, 2026. All responses should be limited to five (5) pages. When responding, reference Materials-Limited Technologies for the Moon and Mars.