# TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Method for Transferring a Spacecraft from Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit to Lunar Orbit (TOP2-272) Canonical: https://abierto.us/opportunities/t2parc00125 - Solicitation number: T2P-ARC-00125 - Notice type: Special notice - Status: Closed. Deadline was August 11, 2027 at 4:00 PM EDT - Department: National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Contracting office: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (80MSFC) - Product or service code: 9999 Miscellaneous Items - First posted: August 11, 2026 - Last posted: August 11, 2026 - SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/3a1aaf8a92454076a2a149c3b704aabc/view ## Description NASA’s Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses. **THE TECHNOLOGY:** This novel innovation from Ames Research Center allows spacecraft to share rides with larger spacecraft which are headed to Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO). The secondary spacecraft is dropped off Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) at any time during the day or year and will subsequently enter lunar orbit, with no constraint on the lunar orbit inclination. The secondary spacecraft can be relatively small, riding as a secondary payload with a larger primary spacecraft. The secondary spacecraft is intended to be controllable (i.e., maneuverable). The invention presents a trajectory design whereby a spacecraft can be launched as a secondary payload into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and through a series of maneuvers to reach lunar orbit. The trajectory analysis begins by identifying acceptable ranges of lunar orbit altitude and inclination values. The unique features of this method includes the use of either a leading or trailing edge lunar flyby to achieve an orbit inclination in the lunar orbit plane from a GTO launched at any time of day. This technique is applicable to secondary spacecraft that share a ride to space resulting in a substantially reduced cost, and with no control of the launch conditions. Major advantages of this design include the relatively short (maximum) lunar transfer duration (<3 months, less than half of that required for a Sun-Earth weak-stability boundary transfer), simplicity and consistency of design (again compared to a Sun-Earth weak stability boundary transfer). To express interest in this opportunity, please submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/TOP2-272 If you have any questions, please e-mail NASA’s Technology Transfer Program at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this SAM.gov notice and your preferred contact information. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at https://technology.nasa.gov/ These responses are provided to members of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice. ## Publications - August 11, 2026: Special notice, due August 11, 2027 at 4:00 PM EDT. Notice 3a1aaf8a92454076a2a149c3b704aabc. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/3a1aaf8a92454076a2a149c3b704aabc/view ## Points of contact - NASA’s Technology Transfer Program, Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov --- Source: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities bulk extract. Confirm deadlines on SAM.gov before responding. Cite https://abierto.us/opportunities/t2parc00125.