Radiation-Hardened Edge Computing Systems for Lunar and Mars Missions

NASA is seeking subcontractors to design and develop compact, radiation-tolerant computing systems capable of running artificial intelligence workloads at the edge in extreme space environments, including the lunar surface and deep space missions such as those to Mars. The systems must be engineered to withstand high levels of ionizing radiation, extreme temperature fluctuations, and the vacuum of space while maintaining reliable performance for real-time AI inference and data processing without reliance on Earth-based support. The hardware and software integrations must prioritize power efficiency, miniaturization, and fault resilience to operate autonomously in conditions where mission success hinges on uninterrupted computational capability. The contract is classified as a subcontract under NAICS code 334118 and was posted on May 11, 2026, with a response deadline of June 2, 2026. The performance location is tied to NASA Headquarters in Washington, though actual development and testing may occur across multiple facilities. The project is part of broader efforts to enable autonomous exploration capabilities for future lunar and Martian missions, reducing latency and increasing decision-making autonomy for robotic and crewed operations. Successful applicants must demonstrate proven expertise in aerospace computing, radiation-hardened electronics, edge AI deployment, and system integration for spaceflight applications.