Sierra Space has revealed new details about a NASA contract awarded in January, shedding light on how its expandable habitat technology could support Lunar logistics on the Moon. The company’s announcement, issued on May 27, confirms its role in developing surface support systems as part of NASA’s ongoing effort to establish a sustained presence on the Moon.
We have been awarded a contract from NASA, under the NextSTEP-2 Appendix R, to study the use of our expandable space station technology on the moon.
— Sierra Space (@SierraSpaceCo) May 28, 2025
The purpose of this contract is to develop innovative solutions for lunar surface logistics and mobility, supporting NASA’s moon… pic.twitter.com/MIN9ykXZA8
The study contract falls under NASA’s NextSTEP-2 Appendix R, an initiative aimed at identifying and maturing technologies for lunar logistics and mobility. Sierra Space will explore how its Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) habitat could be repurposed for staging, transport, storage, and even trash management on the Moon.
This effort is part of NASA’s broader Moon to Mars Architecture, a framework designed to establish a permanent human foothold beyond Earth. As Artemis missions gear up for more complex operations, logistics infrastructure, especially surface-based systems, has become a strategic priority.
“Sierra Space is able to leverage existing technologies to deliver robust and scalable solutions that support both near-term and long-term mission objectives on the moon. We’ve developed a versatile technology with our expandable habitation products that we feel supports NASA’s Moon to Mars goals.”
— Dr. Tom Marshburn, Chief Astronaut and Vice President of Human Factors Engineering at Sierra Space
Sierra Space is one of nine companies selected by NASA for these studies, underscoring the competitive and high-stakes nature of lunar exploration. With this disclosure, the company steps forward as a serious contender in shaping how astronauts and cargo will be supported on the Moon’s surface.
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Testing the LIFE habitat to be space-ready
The May disclosure builds on a successful milestone achieved just weeks earlier. In April, Sierra Space completed a critical hypervelocity impact testing campaign on its LIFE habitat at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility.
The tests simulated extreme space conditions, subjecting the habitat’s soft goods shield layers to impacts at speeds of up to 6.5 kilometers per second. This was the first time a soft goods space structure of this scale was tested under such conditions at White Sands.
Engineers evaluated how well the habitat could withstand micrometeoroid and orbital debris impacts, a vital step in qualifying the design for space deployment. The LIFE module reportedly exceeded performance expectations, reinforcing its viability for future missions.
With these results in hand, Sierra Space now shifts its focus to adapting LIFE technology for lunar surface logistics. The NASA contract awarded under Appendix R will study how the habitat can be repurposed for Moon-based storage, transport, and habitation support.
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From LEO to Lunar: Sierra Space expands moonward
Sierra Space’s lunar ambitions are part of a broader strategic arc that also includes operations in Low Earth Orbit. The company is building out a full-stack platform, with the LIFE habitat and Dream Chaser spaceplane as its cornerstone technologies.
The Dream Chaser Tenacity is expected to make its maiden voyage later this year, delivering cargo to the International Space Station under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services contract. It will be the first spaceplane to fly to the ISS since the Space Shuttle era, adding a unique capability to the current orbital fleet.
This reusable spacecraft, combined with expandable habitat modules, positions Sierra Space as one of the few companies bridging LEO logistics and Lunar surface operations. It’s a synergy that could become increasingly important as NASA and its partners establish outposts beyond Earth.
The lunar logistics study now underway reflects a natural extension of the LIFE system’s capabilities. Originally designed for Earth orbit, the habitat could soon play a key role in Sierra Space’s strategy to support humanity’s next frontier, on the Moon.
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