Reusable Lunar Transportation Programme
TechTheMoon
TechTheMoon thematic programme supporting startups developing reusable space vehicles, lunar orbital vehicles, and commercial access solutions for the lunar economy — including refuellable orbital vehicles using in-situ propellants.
Technical specifications
- Thematic Domain
- Reusable Lunar Transportation
- Vehicle Type
- Modular reusable orbital and lunar vehicles
- Propellant Strategy
- In-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) refuelling in orbit
- Earth Orbit Mission
- 3-6 month experiments
- Target Market
- Space and non-space industries requiring lunar access
- Training Standard
- FAA-compliant commercial astronaut certification
- Artemis Timeline
- Crewed missions 2026, permanent presence 2030
About
The Reusable Lunar Transportation programme at TechTheMoon supports startups developing modular and reusable space vehicles to democratise access to the Moon for both space and non-space industries. This programme addresses the transportation infrastructure layer necessary for a sustainable commercial Earth-Moon economy.
The flagship portfolio company is The Exploration Company, which is developing a modular reusable spacecraft targeting first Earth orbit (for 3-6 month experimental missions) and then the Moon via a reusable lunar orbital vehicle refuellable in orbit using propellants producible from in-situ lunar resources (ISRU). This closed-loop propellant approach dramatically reduces the cost of repeated lunar access by eliminating the need to launch all propellant from Earth.
The programme also encompasses commercial astronaut training — through The Spaceflight Institute, a comprehensive FAA-compliant professional certification programme for commercial astronauts is offered in partnership with space agencies and universities, covering theoretical knowledge and practical training to prepare the human workforce for the emerging lunar economy.
VR2Planets contributes immersive virtual reality tools for complex technical operations in lunar scenarios, enabling collaborative remote operations and training using AI-enhanced reconstructions of real planetary environments (lunar and Martian terrain).
The programme targets the Artemis era demand for sustainable, affordable, and repeatable lunar access, with first crewed missions planned for 2026 and a permanent lunar presence targeted from 2030.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
