Space services company Momentus has received a contract to aid the demonstration of a large-scale structure assembly in Earth’s orbit for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
The deal supports the Novel Orbital and Moon Manufacturing, Materials, and Mass-efficient Design (NOM4D) program, which seeks solutions to integrate, arrange, and host payloads for complex Department of Defense system manufacturing in space.
Under the $3.5-million agreement, the California-based firm will deploy its proprietary Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle to carry supporting assembly devices that will be evaluated in low-Earth orbit.
The vehicle will be launched via a SpaceX Transporter rideshare in early 2026.
Momentus’ Vigoride can deliver up to 200 kilograms (441 pounds) of cargo, supply up to 1 kilowatt of power, and host payloads near the International Space Station.
“We’re thrilled to be supporting DARPA on this cutting-edge program and are looking forward to this exciting demonstration of key enabling technologies for in-space assembly,” Momentus CEO John Rood stated.
“Cost-effective assembly of structures in space has the potential to transform how we operate in space.
“Structures that are too large to fit within the shroud of a launch vehicle can be robotically assembled in space, leading to less complex and cost-effective structures like large communications antennas, hubs for orbital manufacturing of advanced materials and potentially products like semiconductors, and the repair and upgrade of space systems.”
