The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has posted a new opportunity for the Lunar Surface Exploration Initiative (LSEI) Architecture Studies, a strategic effort to define Canada’s next major infrastructure contributions to the NASA-led Artemis campaign.
The LSEI studies aim to define functional and technical requirements for a sustainable human and robotic presence on the Moon. The goal is to identify high-value areas where Canada can lead globally and provide “signature technologies” similar to Canadarm3.
For this study the CSA has identified two technologies;
Mining & In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU): Identifying and processing lunar materials (like water ice or oxygen-rich regolith) into usable consumables or fuel.
Power Generation & Distribution: Developing reliable power grids (nuclear, solar, or beaming) to survive the 14-day lunar night and support habitats and rovers.
The CSA will fund up to two contracts per technology study with total available funding of up to $500,000 per contract. The initial contract period is 10 months. An optional extension for a “Refined Architecture Analysis” phase would included additional funding of up to $300,000.
Because of the complexity of the task, the CSA is mandating that proposals must be submitted by a team comprised of more than two organizations or consultants.
The opportunity was released on February 16 and received several questions related to the short closing date which was originally set for March 3, 2026. Based on potential bidders feedback, the closing date was extended five weeks and will now new close on April 7, 2026 at 2 p.m. Eastern.
This LSEI opportunity follows an announcement on December 13, 2025 that the CSA had provided $2.9 million in funding to four companies for the prototyping phase. The technologies selected included: Agriculture and food production; Autonomous and intelligent robots and rovers; Avionics and communication; Mining and In-situ resource utilization; and Power generation and distribution.