NASA Picks 3 Companies for Lunar Surface Power Tech Prototyping Phase

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Astrobotic Technology and Honeybee Robotics have been shortlisted from an initial roster of five companies to continue developing vertically deployable solar array systems meant for use on robotic and human missions to explore the moon.

The downselected entities will receive $19.4 million in total funds to build prototypes of the Vertical Solar Array Technology and conduct environmental tests under a project aimed at fielding a power structure close to the lunar south pole before the end of this decade, the agency said Wednesday.

NASA intends for the system to demonstrate stability when placed on a sloped area and show resistance to abrasive dust of the lunar surface.

The new awards are valued at $6.2 million for Lockheed, $7 million for Honeybee Robotics and another $6.2 million for Astrobotic Technology.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) and Maxar Technologies (NYSE: MAXR) were the other companies that participated in the design phase of the project.

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