Momentus has secured a $5.1m contract from NASA’s Flight Opportunities programme to support the Commercial Orbital System for Microgravity In-Space Crystallisation (COSMIC) mission — an initiative that harnesses the microgravity environment of space to advance crystal growth for applications in pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and advanced materials.
As part of this mission, Momentus’ Vigoride orbital service vehicle will serve as the next-generation orbital platform to host the COSMIC payloads. Vigoride’s modular design and precision manoeuvring capabilities make it a suitable platform for sustained microgravity experiments and commercial manufacturing in low Earth orbit.
John Rood, CEO of Momentus, said: “Momentus is proud to support NASA and the COSMIC mission with our versatile Vigoride platform. We’re excited to play a key role in this flight test that seeks to unlock new frontiers in space-based manufacturing and usher in a new era where microgravity becomes a driver of innovation and economic growth.”
A collaborative effort between SpaceWorks Enterprises and Astral Materials, COSMIC was selected in June 2025 as a winner of the NASA TechLeap Prize’s Space Technology Payload Challenge. The COSMIC demonstration flight builds on decades of scientific research aboard the International Space Station and is a step toward commercializing in-space production. While on-orbit, SpaceWorks and Astral Materials payload will demonstrate a novel semiconductor manufacturing technology. By partnering with NASA, Momentus aims to accelerate innovation and bring space-enhanced products back to Earth.
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