# NASA LIFT-1 (Lunar Infrastructure Foundational Technologies-1)

**Type:** NASA technology demonstration program  
**Focus:** Lunar in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) — oxygen extraction from lunar soil and rocks  
**Status:** Pre-contract (RFI stage as of April 2026)  
**Parent Organization:** NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)

## Overview

LIFT-1 is NASA's planned lunar ISRU demonstration program focused on extracting oxygen from lunar regolith and rocks to inform eventual production, capture, and storage systems for propellant and life support.

## Timeline

- **2023-11** — NASA STMD issued Request for Information (RFI) seeking industry input on competitive funding approach for lunar ISRU oxygen extraction demonstration mission
- **2026-04** — No contract award announced; program remains at pre-contract RFI stage 2.5 years after solicitation

## Technical Scope

Primary objective: Demonstrate technologies to extract oxygen from lunar soil and rocks. This addresses the critical extraction step in the ISRU value chain between resource characterization (VIPER, LUPEX) and propellant production/storage.

Power requirement: ~10 kW per kg of oxygen produced (addressed separately by NASA-DoE fission power system development).

## Program Context

LIFT-1 represents the extraction demonstration layer in NASA's ISRU architecture:
- **Characterization:** VIPER, LUPEX (funded, scheduled)
- **Extraction demonstration:** LIFT-1 (unfunded, no contract)
- **Production/storage:** Conceptual (no funded programs)

As of April 2026, no space agency or commercial entity has a funded lunar ISRU extraction demonstration mission scheduled for the 2028-2032 window.

## Sources

- NASA STMD LIFT-1 RFI (November 2023)
- NASA ISRU program documentation
- SpaceNews coverage of lunar technologies