NASA selected SpaceX to deploy communications satellites into cislunar space aboard Starship in 2028. The November 7 announcement also assigned lunar power-component work to Honeybee Robotics, Redwire, and Yank Technologies.
The Starship assignment is a communications deployment demonstration. It will support development of networks connecting lunar operations with mission controllers.
The surface project, miniCAST, combines communications and power functions. Honeybee Robotics will supply energy-storage capability, Redwire provides power generation, and Yank Technologies will contribute wireless power-transfer hardware.
These components address separate functions: producing electricity, retaining energy for later use, and transferring power to equipment. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center will assemble and test the systems.
NASA also plans a separate solicitation for integrated power systems in early 2027.
