Notice of Partnering Opportunity - Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (“PRISM”)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center has issued a Special Notice announcing a partnering opportunity for the Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) initiative. This notice solicits partners to support the development and flight of an americium equivalent electrically heated Stirling generator technology designed to power a suite of science-driven instruments and demonstration payloads. The payloads will be delivered via Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) landers to a lunar landing destination identified and justified by proposers. The opportunity was posted on December 18, 2025, with a response deadline of January 9, 2026. This represents a civilian space exploration initiative focused on advancing lunar surface research capabilities.

The primary objective of this partnering opportunity is to develop and demonstrate advanced power generation technology for supporting scientific investigations on the lunar surface, with flexibility regarding landing site selection to include the South Pole region while excluding the North Pole. Interested partners must submit proposals by January 9, 2026, identifying their proposed lunar landing destination with appropriate scientific justification. While specific eligibility criteria are not detailed in this summary notice, the partnering structure suggests this is open to qualified entities capable of contributing to payload development and research missions. The PRISM initiative represents NASA's commitment to leveraging commercial lunar services for advancing scientific discovery, with the Stirling generator technology serving as a critical power source for extended lunar surface operations. Potential partners should carefully review the complete NPO PRISM posting document for detailed technical requirements, proposal submission guidelines, and partnership parameters.