New call invites researchers, academic institutions, and companies in Israel to propose experiments and CubeSat payloads for possible integration into NASA's Artemis III–V missions
The Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, through the Israel Space Agency, has issued a call for research, academic and industrial bodies in Israel to submit initial proposals for scientific experiments and CubeSat nanosatellite payloads, in preparation for their possible integration into NASA's Artemis III–V missions.
The call for proposals is intended at this stage for the initial characterization of a mission concept. It does not guarantee integration into the mission, but allows Israeli entities to propose scientific or technological payloads that will be later tested against NASA's requirements. The deadline for submitting a concept to the Israeli Space Agency is May 25, 2026 at 10:00 AM. After that, Israeli proposals are expected to be selected and submitted jointly to NASA by June 1, 2026.
According to the solicitation, proposals could include payloads for 6U or 12U nanosatellites. The satellites are to be deployed from the Orion spacecraft as part of Artemis missions, in orbits around the Earth, around the Moon, or in heliocentric orbits. The payloads will be required to meet the technical specifications of the SLS launcher and the Orion spacecraft, as well as integration, safety, and environmental durability requirements.
The proposals will be evaluated according to several criteria: technological maturity, engineering feasibility, scientific or technological contribution, ability to meet NASA's integration requirements, as well as a commitment to publish mission data to the public within six months of completion. During the summer, a judging process and discussions between NASA and the Israeli Space Agency are expected to take place regarding the possibility of integrating Israeli payloads into future missions.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Gila Gamliel said that NASA's invitation expresses confidence in Israel's scientific and technological capabilities, and that the strategic agreement signed with NASA opens up the possibility for Israeli researchers and industry to be integrated into major space missions. According to her, Israel has already demonstrated in Artemis 1 the ability to bring unique knowledge and technology to space, and now another path for scientific collaborations has been opened.
The director of the Israel Space Agency, Ran Levena, noted that this is a short-term call, intended for relatively mature ideas with clear scientific or technological value. According to him, Israel has proven capabilities in miniaturizing satellites and developing precise scientific equipment, and the call is intended to identify proposals that can meet the standards of one of the world's major space programs.
The move builds on several previous collaborations between Israel and NASA. During the Artemis I mission, Israel participated in the MARE experiment, which was conducted in collaboration with StemRad and the German Space Agency. As part of the experiment, the Astro-Rad protective vest was tested on two dummies, Zohar and Helga, to test protection against radiation in deep space.
In addition, Israel is a signatory to the Artemis agreements, and in December 2025, a ten-year strategic cooperation agreement was signed between the Israel Space Agency and NASA, for the years 2025–2035. The agreement is intended to expand cooperation in the fields of lunar exploration, space science, space technologies, education, and personnel training. The cooperation is carried out on a scientific basis, without the transfer of funds between the parties.
For Israeli academia and industry, the call may open a path to integration into the Artemis program's flight infrastructure, but it is also a competitive and time-limited process. Only proposals that meet NASA's engineering and scientific requirements will be able to advance to further stages of examination.
The call details appear on the Israeli Space Agency website:
https://www.space.gov.il/kolkore/134961
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