Top 10 Civil Space Tech Shortfalls

Challenge: The lunar surface subjects landers, rovers and future bases to wide temperature swings, falling to -245C (-409F) during the two-week lunar night.

Technologies: Fission surface power, radioisotope thermoelectric generators, power beaming, advanced batteries, regenerative fuel cell systems, solar tower arrays, power cables, new thermal management systems and actuation components.

Challenge: Survival and continuous operations on the Moon or Mars—and local resource extraction—require durable, reliable, Sun-independent and multi-kilowatt power sources. Solar panels do not generate enough power, rely on the Sun and are vulnerable to environmental hazards such as temperature changes, dust and radiation.

Technologies: Fission surface power, regenerative fuel cell systems, power cables and solar tower arrays.

Challenge: Whether on the Moon or Mars, in deep space or low Earth orbit, systems need increased autonomy to overcome teleoperations and communications bandwidth and latency problems.

Technologies: Radiation-tolerant computers with increased memory, processing power and power dissipation to increase autonomy for crewed and uncrewed missions.

Challenge: Navigating on and around the Moon or Mars requires new position, navigation and timing systems, especially if future missions rely on uncrewed robots and vehicles.

Technologies: Orbiting constellation of position, navigation and timing satellites, surface relay terminals, next-generation deep space atomic clocks, weak-signal GNSS receivers and a Mars Navigation Satellite System.

Challenge: Robotic systems are only as strong as their components. Operating on the Moon or Mars requires machinery that works near-continuously for long durations in extreme conditions, including radiation, extreme temperatures, abrasive dust and a vacuum. Long-duration missions also require greater modularity, repairability and maintainability.

Technologies: Power-dense actuators, such as electric motors, gears and drivetrain components, torque sensors, high-density power storage, computer and avionics architectures for autonomous robots.

Challenge: Radiation, dust and heat can degrade and break avionics.

Technologies: Avionics systems that can survive lunar night without heaters, as well as sensors and actuators that operate without active thermal control.

Challenge: The International Space System has limited onboard detecting and monitoring capabilities for hazardous gases, chemicals, microorganisms and noise. It also must return samples to labs on Earth for further analysis.

Technologies: Automated, distributed, lightweight sensors and onboard computers for monitoring on long-duration missions to the Moon or Mars.

Challenge: Long-distance missions to Mars need efficient yet long-duration propulsion systems. Spacecraft also need onboard electrical power generation to supplement solar panels, which produce less energy as they travel farther from the Sun.

Technologies: Better power conversion systems, heat rejection systems and in-space propellant transfer systems.

Challenge: Latency and bandwidth issues from operating rovers via distant teleoperations mean vehicles receive commands slowly—not fast enough for the Artemis program’s plans, which call for robotic systems working during uncrewed periods.

Technologies: New algorithms that can make sense of a vehicle’s surroundings in harsh lighting or feature-sparse terrain, as well as new sensors and additional onboard data processing capabilities.

Challenge: Partial gravity and elevated oxygen levels within lunar habitats raise the risk of fire by making it difficult to predict, detect and extinguish.

Technologies: Nonflammable materials, additives and coatings, as well as fire detection and suppression systems and improved crew fire safety training.