Washington, D.C. – The Commercial Spaceflight Federation praises NASA for its announcement of three winners of their new innovative Lunar Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown (CATALYST) partnership program. Two awards were given to CSF Executive Member Companies Masten Space Systems and Moon Express, with the third going to Astrobotic Technology.
NASA announced that they will partner with three companies through the CATALYST program using no-exchange of funds Space Act Agreements lasting up to three years. The agency will contribute technical expertise, access to NASA center testing facilities, and loan equipment or software for these private sector lunar lander development and testing efforts.
“Today’s announcement is a shining example of how NASA can partner with entrepreneurial companies to directly enable affordable scientific exploration beyond low-Earth orbit,” stated CSF President Michael Lopez-Alegria. “CATALYST is a small step towards returning America to the Moon, advancing our technology, and enabling an important journey to other destinations.”
“These companies are not only developing capabilities that could lead to commercial landers on the surface of the moon, but will enable a renaissance of lunar science, followed by industrial resource prospecting,” said CSF Executive Director Alex Saltman. “This could eventually lead to human missions that will span generations of current and future explorers,” Saltman concluded.
About the Commercial Spaceflight Federation
The mission of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) is to promote the development of commercial human spaceflight, pursue ever-higher levels of safety, and share best practices and expertise throughout the industry. The Commercial Spaceflight Federation’s member companies, which include commercial spaceflight developers, operators, spaceports, suppliers, and service providers, are creating thousands of high-tech jobs nationwide, working to preserve American leadership in aerospace through technology innovation, and inspiring young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. For more information please visit www.commercialspaceflight.org or contact Sirisha Bandla at sirisha@commercialspaceflight.org or at 202.347.1418.
