SpaceMiningData
PayloadMoonIn development

Prospect Moon (Interlune payload suite)

Interlune payload suite funded by a NASA SBIR Phase III contract (about $6.9 million, signed 2026-02-24). It would collect and size-sort regolith, release solar-wind volatiles, and measure helium-3 and other gases with a mass spectrometer. Interlune says it will be ready for launch in 2028 on a CLPS lander not yet named.

Objective. Measure solar-wind volatiles, including helium-3 and hydrogen, released from lunar regolith on the surface, and test the sample-handling and gas-release steps of Interlune's planned harvester.

Targeted

Facts

Kind
Payload
Mission type
Prospecting
Target
MoonNearside equatorial mare site (per Interlune's 2025 LPSC abstract; not restated in 2026 sources)
Launch
Not recorded
Phase
In developmentIn development: NASA SBIR Phase III contract 80NSSC26C0002 ($6,893,204, signed 2026-02-24, period to 2027-09-01) per USAspending; NASA and Interlune describe engineering-unit and flight-hardware build.
Outcome
Not applicable
Why it is included
Stated resource objective

Participants

Operators, payload owners, carriers and customers are recorded separately.

OrganizationRole
InterluneOperator
InterlunePayload owner
National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationFunder

Resources and evidence

ResourceEvidence
Helium-3Targeted
VolatilesTargeted
RegolithTargeted

Dated events

  1. 2026-02-24

    NASA SBIR Phase III contract to Interlune for Prospect Moon

    Government awardInterluneWith Prospect Moon (Interlune payload suite), National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationUSD 6,893,204 (official award record)

    NASA awarded Interlune SBIR Phase III contract 80NSSC26C0002 ($6,893,204, signed 2026-02-24) for 'Prospect Moon', a lunar resource technology demonstration and prospecting payload; NASA announced the award in May 2026.

    Sources (2)
    1. [1]USAspending.gov award record 80NSSC26C0002 (API)
      U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.govGovernment recordPublished 2026-02-24Accessed 2026-09-26Supports: amount, date
      "total_obligation":6893204.0,"subaward_count":0,"total_subaward_amount":null,"date_signed":"2026-02-24"
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
    2. [2]NASA Fosters Development of Lunar Resource-Seeking Technologies
      NASAGovernment recordPublished 2026-05-04Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: summary
      To advance ISRU technologies, NASA has awarded a firm-fixed-price contract of $6.9 million over the next year and a half to Interlune of Seattle
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.

Open evidence gaps

  • No lander, CLPS task order, or launch vehicle assigned
  • Interlune's X post (not raw-checked) says the payload will be ready for lander integration in fall 2027; the release says ready for launch in 2028

Record history

changes to this record's facts, newest first

ChangedFieldWasNowReasonSource
2026-05-04launch date20272028Schedule slip[3]

Sources

5 sources
  1. [1]USAspending.gov award record 80NSSC26C0002 (API)
    U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.govGovernment recordPublished 2026-02-24Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: name, phase, participants
    PROSPECT MOON: A LUNAR RESOURCE TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION AND PROSPECTING MISSION
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. [2]NASA Fosters Development of Lunar Resource-Seeking Technologies
    NASAGovernment recordPublished 2026-05-04Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: objective, resources, mission type
    The payload is designed to collect lunar regolith samples, sort particles by size, extract solar wind volatile gases, and measure their quantities.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  3. [3]Interlune Awarded $6.9 Million Contract from NASA for Lunar Resource Development
    InterluneCompany statementPublished 2026-05-04Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: launch date, history
    The Interlune payload, which will be ready for launch in 2028, builds on prior work with NASA's Flight Opportunities program and the National Science Foundation (NSF)
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  4. [4]Interlune Awarded $6.9 Million Contract from NASA for Lunar Resource Development
    InterluneCompany statementPublished 2026-05-04Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: host mission id
    It has been designed to fly on one of the commercial robotic landers developed for NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  5. [5]Prospect Moon: Interlune's Commercial Mission to the Lunar Surface (LPSC 2025 abstract 1185, E. A. Frank)
    Lunar and Planetary Institute / USRA (abstract authored by Interlune)Company statementPublished 2025-03Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: target site, history
    Prospect Moon is Interlune's upcoming prospecting mission. It will launch in 2027 and land on the lunar surface at a nearside, equatorial mare site.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.