Momentus Secures DARPA Contract Expansion for In-Orbit Assembly

Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS), a U.S. commercial space company specializing in satellite buses, transportation, and in-space infrastructure services, has secured an expanded contract from the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The agreement, valued at around $3.5 million, is for an in-orbit demonstration of assembling large-scale structures. The mission is set to launch as soon as 2026 on SpaceX's Transporter rideshare mission.

The expanded contract, part of DARPA's Novel Orbital and Moon Manufacturing, Materials, and Mass-efficient Design (NOM4D) program, involves managing the launch, integrating the payload, and hosting the assembly mission in orbit. The in-space assembly will be conducted on Momentus' Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle (OSV), with the goal of testing the functionality and dependability of the in-space assembly payload in Low Earth orbit (LEO).

Momentus received the original NOM4D contract in April 2024 and has completed the first two phases of the agreement. The NOM4D initiative aims to develop the foundation for constructing durable, precise structures in space, enabling in-orbit manufacturing of materials such as solar arrays and antennas specifically designed to withstand the unique environment of space.

This mission marks Momentus' fourth Vigoride mission and its first partnership with DARPA. For this mission, Momentus has additional capacity to support customers planning LEO deployment and hosted payload missions in early 2026. Government and commercial customers interested in utilizing the ability of the Vigoride vehicle to cost-effectively launch and deliver microsatellites up to 200 kg and cubesats, provide average power up to 1kW, and deploy or operate hosted payloads in orbits above 500 km and below the International Space Station are encouraged to contact the Momentus Commercial team.

The expanded contract with DARPA positions Momentus as a key player in the emerging space economy, particularly in the realm of in-space assembly and manufacturing. By leveraging SpaceX's Transporter rideshare mission, Momentus can offer more cost-effective and scalable services, while both companies can benefit from the partnership through increased revenue, expanded customer base, and enhanced reputation.