EARLY STAGE INNOVATIONS FOR IN SITU RESOURCE UTILIZATION (ESI26-ISRU)
NASA is seeking early-stage research proposals from U.S. universities for innovative lunar water purification technologies, with mandatory preliminary proposals due August 13, 2026.
Funder: NASA Headquarters
Due Dates: August 13, 2026: Mandatory preliminary proposal deadline (5:00 PM Eastern) | December 16, 2026: Target deadline for invited full proposals (5:00 PM Eastern)
Funding Amounts: Up to $1,500,000 per award; ~3 awards expected; project duration not specified.
Summary: Supports innovative early-stage research by U.S. universities on lunar in situ resource utilization water purification technologies at low TRLs.
Key Information: Mandatory two-step process: only invited full proposals accepted after preliminary submission.
Description
This NASA opportunity supports early-stage research focused on lunar in situ resource utilization (ISRU), specifically water purification technologies, at low Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). The program seeks innovative proposals from U.S. institutions of higher education that address civil-space needs, with an emphasis on advancing technologies relevant to lunar resource extraction and processing. The solicitation is part of NASA's Space Technology Research Grants (STRG) Program under the Research and Technology Mission Directorate (RTMD), aiming to lay the groundwork for future space missions by developing transformative technologies.
