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Northrop Grumman to test shared lunar power systems

By SpaceEnergy 04 August 2026 1 min read
Northrop Grumman to test shared lunar power systems
Artist’s rendering of the Moon’s South Pole region. Glowing points of light scattered across the lunar surface represent surface assets supporting sustained human and robotic operations near the South Pole. Source: NASA

(SpaceEnergy) NASA is working with Northrop Grumman on lunar demonstrations of shared surface power infrastructure and systems designed to survive extended periods of darkness on the Moon.

Three technology-demonstration payloads are planned for delivery to the lunar surface as NASA develops infrastructure for its proposed Moon Base near the lunar South Pole.

The demonstrations will reuse power and avionics hardware originally developed for the Gateway programme’s Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO), following NASA’s shift towards a lunar surface-focused architecture.

NASA said the initial demonstrations will test “survive-the-night” systems intended to withstand extreme lunar conditions, including multi-day periods in shadow. They will also test shared surface power infrastructure capable of supporting critical payloads or other Moon Base assets, alongside associated avionics and power capabilities.

The work forms part of NASA’s first phase of Moon Base development, which runs through 2029 and is expected to involve more than 20 robotic landings intended to progressively demonstrate technologies and infrastructure before crewed operations.

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