# DARPA Picks Three Companies for Lunar Orbiter Studies
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency selected three companies to conduct design studies for a lunar orbiter mission called LASSO (Lunar Attached Segmented Space Objects). The selected firms will develop concepts for spacecraft that operate in lunar orbit.
DARPA awarded the study contracts to advance orbital operations around the Moon. The agency plans to use findings from these studies to inform future procurement decisions. Each company will explore different technical approaches to lunar orbit insertion, station-keeping, and payload deployment.
The Moon represents a domain where military and civilian space operations increasingly intersect. DARPA's focus on lunar capabilities reflects broader U.S. government strategy to establish sustained presence beyond Earth orbit. A functional lunar orbiter enables communications relay, surveillance, and logistics support for surface operations.
LASSO builds on earlier DARPA efforts in orbital mechanics and autonomous spacecraft operations. The three-company approach allows the agency to evaluate competing designs before committing to hardware development. Contract values and timelines remain consistent with typical DARPA study phases.
Success in LASSO sets the foundation for operational lunar infrastructure. The orbiter design work positions the selected companies for potential follow-on production contracts. These studies directly support broader Artemis objectives and Department of Defense space strategy goals.