Shares of Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ:MNTS) soared 55% after the U.S. space transportation company revealed it had secured a NASA contract to evaluate sending advanced foundational robotics systems into orbit.
The work, awarded under NASA’s Flight Opportunities program, has already been completed for this initial phase. Momentus plans to submit a proposal for a follow-up mission to demonstrate the technology in space. The company is one of just two contenders being considered for the larger contract, which NASA expects to award in September.
The study envisioned a mission using Momentus’ Vigoride orbital service vehicle — a platform designed to precisely transport and deploy payloads, while also serving as a satellite bus for applications including communications and missile detection.
“This win demonstrates our commitment to advancing space infrastructure by supporting innovative technologies that can transform how we operate in space,” said John Rood, CEO of Momentus. “We’re honored to be entrusted by NASA to help mature these cutting-edge robotics systems.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Momentus examined ways to fly autonomous robotic systems aboard one of its future Vigoride missions. The aim is to showcase robotic capabilities that could enable on-orbit servicing, satellite construction, debris removal, and lunar surface projects.
The contract also required a commercialization strategy to prove that space robotics can be deployed in practical, profitable use cases. If approved, a future demonstration flight could give NASA critical data on how these systems perform in microgravity.
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