Moon to Mars Architecture Studies

The Moon to Mars Architecture Studies initiative under NextSTEP-3 is designed to advance the development of integrated systems and mission concepts for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit, with a focus on lunar and Martian environments. Managed by the Strategic and Architecture Office at Marshall Space Flight Center, this effort will issue defined and open study calls led by the Mars Architecture Team, Lunar Architecture Team, and Preformulation Project Teams to refine technical requirements, identify key capabilities, and evaluate architectural options. These calls are open to industry vendors who may propose innovative studies to support the evolution of the Moon to Mars architecture. The program will support awarding contracts for concept development, risk reduction activities, and potential prototyping efforts through a Broad Agency Announcement vehicle, enabling flexible and agile partnerships with industry. The work will directly inform decision-making for future mission elements and help prioritize technology investments aligned with NASA’s deep space exploration goals. Although no solicitation number or specific point of contact is listed yet, the forecast was posted in May 2026 under NAICS code 541715, indicating the focus is on research and development in physical, engineering, and scientific fields. The effort is entirely centered on strategic architectural studies with performance expected to span multiple locations without a fixed physical place of performance.