Advanced Space Selected for Unfunded NASA Space Act Agreement (SAA) to Develop Cislunar Spacecraft Autonomy with autoNGC

The SAA is managed by NASA’s Research and Technology Mission Directorate and will enable Advanced Space to collaborate with NASA on improving the autoNGC software without financial exchange.

WESTMINSTER, CO, 11 August 2026 – Advanced Space was awarded an unfunded SAA through the 2025 Announcement of Collaborative Opportunity (ACO) with NASA. The agreement will advance the state of the art in spacecraft autonomy by building on the agency’s Autonomous Navigation Guidance and Control (autoNGC) software to enable it to operate spacecraft in cislunar space.

In the SAA named “Integration of Onboard Autonomy for Flight Demonstrations,” Advanced Space will partner with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) to enhance the autoNGC flight software suite to mature autonomous navigation, guidance, and control for spacecraft operating at the Moon and beyond.

This effort builds on the success of CAPSTONE™, which has now logged close to 4 years of operations at the Moon and has tested autoNGC algorithms onboard in Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit, helping de-risk lunar orbit operations and demonstrating our CAPS™ technology for autonomous navigation and communications in cislunar space. While portions of autoNGC had previously flown in Earth orbit, CAPSTONE marked the first time the software was tested at the Moon.

Over the next 24 months, Advanced Space will support future lunar mission demonstrations, define technical requirements for autoNGC integration, and develop interfaces with related autonomy tools, all to support Artemis and broader Moon-to-Mars objectives.

From CAPSTONE testbed activities to future joint flight demonstrations, we’re proud to help shape the next generation of spacecraft autonomy at the Moon and beyond.