Small Tech Company Secures Second NASA Contract for Lunar Power Systems
Wireless Charging Technology Advances Toward Deployment on Moon and Mars Missions
A Brooklyn-based technology company has secured its second NASA Phase II contract to develop wireless power systems for lunar and planetary exploration. The two-year agreement with Yank Technologies will fund development of Wireless Power Receiver Converters that could improve how rovers operate on the moon and Mars.
"With this follow-on NASA Phase II contract, we will prepare Wireless Power Receiver Converters for a variety of power interfacing solutions for NASA to establish long-lasting habitats on lunar and planetary surfaces,"
Josh Yank, Yank Technologies
NASA's Phase II Small Business Innovation Research contracts are worth up to $850,000 each, providing funding for companies to develop technology prototypes after proving their concepts during Phase I.
Yank will advance its Wireless Power Receiver Converters to Technology Readiness Level 6 during the contract period. The devices consolidate multiple converters into a single stage, reducing rover mass and improving system efficiency. Their wide input voltage range supports varying charging distances and alignment tolerances - critical factors for wireless power transmission in space environments.
The technology addresses a key challenge in planetary exploration: dust contamination. Traditional electrical connectors become unreliable when exposed to lunar regolith or Martian dust storms. Wireless power transfer eliminates these vulnerable connection points, potentially extending mission duration and reliability.
"With this follow-on NASA Phase II contract, we will prepare Wireless Power Receiver Converters for a variety of power interfacing solutions for NASA to establish long-lasting habitats on lunar and planetary surfaces. This development further emphasizes NASA's commitment to wireless power for solving mission-critical challenges on the Moon and Mars," said Josh Yank, CEO of Yank Technologies.
The company holds 20 patents with approximately 50 more pending, focusing on wireless power solutions across industrial, automotive, consumer and space applications. Beyond space exploration, Yank Technologies develops systems for factory automation, vehicle interiors and consumer electronics charging.
This represents Yank Technologies' latest NASA collaboration, building on previous contracts for dust-tolerant connectors and wireless charging systems for lunar vehicles. The company's expanding relationship with NASA comes as the space agency increases investment in moon and Mars exploration technologies.
For fiscal year 2026, Congress allocated $8.3 billion to NASA's Moon-to-Mars Initiative, creating opportunities for companies developing space-ready technologies.
(Source: Yank Technologies news release. Image provided)