The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has teamed up with Northrop Grumman to conceptualize a groundbreaking idea: a lunar railway network.
Northrop Grumman stated on March 19 that this lunar railroad network could revolutionize transportation on the moon, facilitating the movement of humans, supplies, and resources for commercial purposes. This ambitious endeavor aims to contribute to the growth of a robust space economy, benefiting not only the United States but also its international partners.
The primary focus of Northrop Grumman’s work lies in delineating the necessary interfaces, resources, and funding required to construct such a network. Additionally, the company will assess the technological and logistical challenges involved. Northrop Grumman plans to propose prototypes for lunar rail systems and explore feasible methods for their construction and operation.
This initiative is part of DARPA’s Lunar Architecture Capability Study, also known as LunA-10. Despite its name, the seven-month study will not finance construction or hardware development. Instead, its goal is to identify the fundamental technologies essential for establishing a sustainable infrastructure on the moon.
In December, DARPA selected Northrop Grumman and 13 other companies to investigate various concepts supporting a lunar economy envisioned by 2035. These studies encompass diverse areas such as power generation, lunar mining, navigation, and logistics. The selected companies range from established defense contractors to innovative startups and tech firms. However, DARPA has not disclosed the financial details of the contracts awarded.
These endeavors align with broader aspirations for lunar exploration and utilization, involving not only governmental organizations but also commercial entities. DARPA and the Air Force Research Laboratory have initiated multiple programs focusing on lunar logistics and satellite sensing in recent years.
The growing interest of the Space Force in activities around the moon is evident. In February, the service announced plans to establish a Space Futures Command to explore forward-looking concepts and missions. Cislunar operations, referring to activities in the vicinity of the moon, will be a key area of focus for this command.
During the Satellite 2024 conference in Washington, D.C., Lt. Gen. Shawn Bratton, the Space Force’s chief strategy and resourcing officer, emphasized the importance of understanding the military utility of cislunar operations. He highlighted the need for thorough analysis to provide Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, and Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall with reliable data regarding the potential military benefits of operations in that environment.
These collaborative efforts between DARPA, Northrop Grumman, and other stakeholders underscore the collective ambition to explore and harness the vast potential of lunar resources and infrastructure for both commercial and military purposes.