NASA has selected Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines to carry out four Moon landings in late 2028, with nearly $600 million invested to support the agency's vision of establishing a long-term human outpost on the lunar surface.
- Four missions scheduled for late 2028 under CLPS program
- Nearly $600 million awarded to three commercial space companies
- Identical science instruments to enhance lunar operations
What happened
NASA has awarded close to $600 million to three commercial companies—Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines—to conduct four Moon missions planned for late 2028. This step aligns with NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which prioritizes partnering with private industry to support a growing number of surface deliveries aimed at building a permanent lunar presence.
Astrobotic received funding for two missions, while Firefly Aerospace and Intuitive Machines were each awarded one mission. All four landers will carry the same trio of scientific instruments designed to better understand the lunar environment, including observations of dust kicked up by landers and improvements to navigation capabilities. The agency is also advancing plans for rovers, communication relays, and additional scientific payloads to enable sustained exploration.
Why it feels good
This initiative represents a major leap forward in humanity’s return to the Moon, not just for short visits but aimed at establishing a sustainable base that could support human presence for extended periods. By engaging multiple commercial companies with proven lander technologies, NASA gains flexibility, increases mission cadence, and accelerates learning opportunities that will be invaluable for future crewed missions.
The use of identical scientific instruments across different missions ensures consistent and comparable data collection, strengthening researchers' understanding of the challenges posed by lunar dust and radiation. These insights will help build safer and more reliable operations on the Moon, laying a solid foundation for exploration beyond lunar orbit.
What to enjoy or watch next
Keep an eye on NASA’s announcements regarding additional rover missions like PROMISE, which will investigate the lunar surface and subsurface for resources critical to future exploration. These robotic explorers will help identify materials that astronauts can use, reducing dependency on Earth supplies.
Future solicitations for lunar infrastructure technologies, including communications satellites and optical imagers, will further expand capabilities on the Moon. These technologies are expected to enhance surface navigation and real-time communications between the Moon and Earth, essential for a growing lunar outpost. Anticipate updates on these areas as NASA continues to build the foundation for humanity’s next giant leap.