AeroFly was selected for a NASA Phase II SBIR titled “Continuous Auger-Based Water Vapor Extraction from Icy Lunar Regolith” under Z-LIVE.03, to mature VADER, the Volatile Auger Dryer Extraction from Regolith system. Phase II will advance VADER toward a CLPS-relevant thermal vacuum demonstration, supporting future lunar ISRU, Artemis surface operations, and sustained lunar infrastructure.
About VADER →
Both started as interns on the engineering services side and grew into managing their own workstreams. Addison now helps lead the digital-twin modeling effort alongside Dylan Stephens, and Tyler has moved into hardware and simulation development for Rego-LIFT.
Meet the team →
During National Small Business Week 2026, AeroFly received the Innovative Business of the Year Award, recognized for innovation rooted in research and collaboration.
Meet the team →
AeroFly completed Payload Build Round 2 of NASA’s TechLeap Prize, finishing the Rego-LIFT payload for an upcoming parabolic-flight demonstration.
See projects →
Liam Murray represented AeroFly at the 2026 Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium Spring Meeting in Washington, D.C. and Laurel, MD.
Meet the team →
Aerospace America reported AeroFly’s two auger programs, Rego-LIFT and VADER, have drawn a combined $1.7M in NASA funding, with Rego-LIFT parabolic flight tests planned for September.
Read on Aerospace America →
With Payload Build Round 1 complete, AeroFly moved toward vacuum-chamber integration, system maturation, and parabolic-flight preparation for the second half of 2026.
NASA TechLeap →
AeroFly’s formal NASA TechLeap site visit scored 97+, completing Payload Build Round 1 and triggering a $200K milestone payment.
Vacuum testing →
AeroFly advanced Blue Zero, a small attritable quadrotor built to domestic-sourcing requirements and positioned for Army initiatives seeking large quantities of low-cost drones.
Explore drones →
Brookings Radio covered AeroFly’s selection by NASA to test and advance Rego-LIFT, the modular conveyor designed to collect and transport lunar regolith for oxygen production.
Listen on Brookings Radio →
SDSU detailed the TechLeap challenge, AeroFly’s $500K award, planned 2026 parabolic flight testing, and the next step: a full-scale 30-foot Rego-LIFT and a 15-day NASA-overseen test.
Read on SDSU →
Red Zero went from concept to flight in roughly three months at AeroFly’s Colorado R&D center, the proving step ahead of the NDAA-compliant Blue Zero.
See the fleet →
AeroFly was accepted into the NVIDIA Inception startup program, which provides technical resources, infrastructure, and commercialization support for its simulation work.
AeroFly’s first day on contract for VADER (Z-LIVE.03): integrated regolith excavation and water extraction using an auger-dryer system.
About VADER →
Research Park profiled AeroFly as one of Brookings’ space-technology startups advancing lunar infrastructure, digital twins, and excavation systems.
Read on Research Park →
AeroFly kicked off the 24-month Rego-LIFT Phase II effort with its NASA technical monitor, advancing toward a full-scale terrestrial prototype and vacuum testing.
Rego-LIFT program →
AeroFly’s Liam Murray attended the two-week NobleReach bootcamp in Washington, D.C., meeting NASA HQ leadership, members of Congress, and federal program managers.
NobleReach →
AeroFly was selected for a second NASA Phase I SBIR, VADER, to extract water from icy lunar regolith with an auger-dryer system for in-situ resource utilization.
See VADER →
NASA named AeroFly among ten TechLeap awardees for near-vertical regolith conveyance for oxygen ISRU using Rego-LIFT, with flight tests and up to $5M across the challenge.
NASA TechLeap →
SDSU told AeroFly’s story: from drone and agriculture roots to lunar infrastructure, its NASA Phase I contract, and notice of a Phase II SBIR award.
Read on SDSU →
AeroFly filed its first provisional patent, protecting IP for its extraterrestrial modular regolith conveyance system.
Carter, Dylan, and Liam presented Rego-LIFT at the LSIC Spring Meeting; Carter joined a panel with Honeybee Robotics, Lunar Outpost, and Virgin Galactic.
Meet the team →Carter Waggoner accepted AeroFly’s first full-time role as Chief Engineer, marking the shift from student-staffed projects to full-time engineering execution.
Meet the team →
AeroFly was selected for NASA SBIR Phase II, Vertical Lunar Regolith Conveyance for ISRU, enabling a full-scale terrestrial prototype and vacuum testing.
Rego-LIFT program →An industry partner engaged AeroFly for as-built CAD modeling on a major infrastructure program, one of its first engineering-services contracts.
Engineering services →AeroFly submitted eight Phase I SBIR/STTR proposals to NASA, scaling from a single award into a broad federal-proposal engine.
AeroFly validated Rego-LIFT with lunar simulant (10+ kg/hr reliable transport and 600+ kg/hr in near-vertical trials), and NASA assigned the system TRL 4.
Rego-LIFT program →AeroFly and Honeybee Robotics agreed to partner on future lunar efforts, a relationship begun through RASC-AL and folded into the Phase II strategy, including vacuum-chamber testing.
Rego-LIFT program →AeroFly was named Start-Up of the Year at the Innovation Center by Research Park at SDSU.
South Dakota astronaut Charles “Sam” Gemar accepted an invitation to join AeroFly’s Advisory Board, a strong credibility marker for space operations.
Advisory board →AeroFly submitted a NASA NextSTEP-2 proposal focused on extraterrestrial infrastructure technology, an early lunar-infrastructure positioning move.
AeroFly reframed itself around three areas: eVTOL/UAS rotorcraft, space mechanisms for extraterrestrial applications, and engineering/additive-manufacturing services.
What we do →
AeroFly began its first NASA Phase I SBIR ($149,451) developing modular static auger systems for lunar regolith handling, the seed of Rego-LIFT.
Rego-LIFT program →