NASA has chosen three commercial space companies to handle four new Moon missions planned for late 2028, according to ScienceDaily. The awards are part of the agency’s broader effort to build a long-term human presence on the lunar surface.
Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace and Intuitive Machines will deliver scientific instruments to the Moon under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services, or CLPS, initiative. The total value of the contracts is nearly $600 million, with Astrobotic receiving $297.9 million for two deliveries, Firefly Aerospace awarded $144.2 million, and Intuitive Machines given $148.3 million for one mission each.
NASA said the missions will help expand what it calls its Moon Base Program, which is aimed at creating a sustained outpost on the Moon. Lori Glaze, associate administrator for NASA’s Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate, said the awards reflect the agency’s commitment to accelerating its work toward a long-term presence on the lunar surface.
Each flight will carry the same three science payloads so researchers can compare results from different landing sites. NASA says the data will help improve landing models, measure radiation conditions, and support future navigation and surface operations as the agency builds more lunar infrastructure.
Along with the new mission awards, NASA said it is considering additional lunar technology and infrastructure proposals, including future landers, communication and navigation systems, and a possible rover concept called PROMISE.
