NASA will identify mission-critical technologies and supply chain gaps through its Office of Strategic Capital, then share priorities with the SBIC program to guide private investment that supports space priorities.

SBA will manage investment funds to mobilize private capital for small businesses, manufacturers, and innovators focused on space-related priorities.

The initiative aligns with the national space policy and aims to accelerate development of industrial capabilities to support lunar and Mars exploration, per NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.

In 2026 and 2024, NASA expanded partnerships and equity efforts, including a 2026 Artemis II partnership with Lockheed Martin and ongoing equity and inclusion initiatives to engage underserved communities and expand STEM education.

The program shifts from direct grants to fostering long-term private investment with national-security and commercial value, helping companies scale and sustain future exploration.

The goal is to strengthen the U.S. space supply chain by expanding domestic manufacturing, reducing vulnerabilities, and driving sector-wide innovation.

Artemis program context highlights a large network of suppliers and the collaborative scale of NASA procurement efforts.

NASA and SBA officially launched the SBIC-NASA Initiative on June 29, 2026, to boost the space economy by increasing private investment in space-technology firms.

Key voices, including Jared Isaacman and SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, emphasize strengthening the industrial base to enable a new era of space exploration.

NASA and SBA signed a Memorandum of Agreement to bolster the U.S. supply chain by increasing sourcing from innovative tech small businesses, leveraging NASA’s Office of Strategic Capital and SBA’s SBIC program.

SBIC funds are expected to invest at least 60% of capital in NASA-identified focus areas such as energy, nuclear propulsion, advanced software, specialized materials, harsh-environment infrastructure, expanded launch capability, and life-support technologies.

Priority investment areas include energy production and storage, nuclear power and propulsion, advanced software and communications, materials, lunar/Mars infrastructure, launch capacity, and biomedical life-support technologies.