Advanced Space Selected for an Unfunded NASA Space Act Agreement (SAA) to Develop Distributed Spacecraft Autonomy in Cislunar Space

The SAA, managed by NASA’s Research and Technology Mission Directorate, will enable Advanced Space to collaborate on improving NASA’s ability to fly “swarm” constellations at the Moon without financial exchange.

WESTMINSTER, CO, 11 August 2026 – Advanced Space was awarded an unfunded SAA through the 2025 Announcement of Collaborative Opportunity (ACO) to enable multiple spacecraft to coordinate their operations in cislunar space.

In the SAA named “Distributed Small Spacecraft Autonomy in Cislunar Space,” Advanced Space will partner with NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) to enhance the Starling algorithms and incorporate them on space flight demonstrations for missions at the Moon currently in formulation for flight testing in 2027 or later. This state-of-the-art project is aimed at enabling autonomous multi-spacecraft communications and coordination in cislunar space, reducing risk for future lunar swarm missions, and accelerating the commercialization of capabilities that support Artemis and broader Moon-to-Mars objectives.

NASA leverages non-reimbursable Announcements of Collaboration Opportunity (ACO) agreements to partner with private industry on lunar and Mars infrastructure. These no-cash partnerships provide companies with NASA technical expertise and testing facilities instead of direct funding.

Under the ACO model, instead of waiting for massive government-funded contracts, Advanced Space gains direct access to NASA engineers and testing beds to iterate its autonomy code rapidly. This allows the company to supply the critical navigation backbone required for the agency’s upcoming Moon Base initiatives.

Advanced Space looks forward to helping NASA shape the next generation of autonomous, distributed spacecraft systems in cislunar space and beyond.