NASA Signs $590M in Moon Deals; Total Program Cost Unknown
The missions will carry 12 NASA science payloads and use updated lander designs to support a long-term lunar base.
- On Tuesday, NASA awarded $590.4 million to Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines for four lunar missions scheduled for late 2028 to deliver science instruments and cargo to the Moon Base.
- The contracts represent Phase 1 of NASA's plan to build a permanent lunar settlement, an initial phase expected to last through 2028 and cost about $10 billion as part of the broader Artemis program.
- Astrobotic received $297.9 million for two deliveries, while Firefly and Intuitive Machines each received $144.2 million and $148.3 million respectively for one delivery each, carrying instruments including SCALPSS cameras and radiation monitors.
- Amid competition with China, U.S. officials aim to accelerate lunar exploration; however, the White House proposed cutting NASA's budget by 23% to $18.8 billion while the House advanced legislation keeping funding flat.
- Blue Origin faces delays after a New Glenn rocket exploded in May, prompting NASA to explore alternative launch options for the Blue Moon lander as the agency scales payload capacity for future Mars exploration.
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NASA Investing Nearly $600 Million in Push to Establish Moon Base
Phone: Provided by NASA / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images July 1, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick and Fox News reporter Ebben Brown discuss NASA’s $20 billion Moon base project. NASA awarded $600 million in contracts to private companies for equipment and building materials.WASHINGTON, D.C. ~ NASA has a plan to build a $30 billion moon base at the lunar south pole and return humans to the moon, and the agency is one step closer to reaching its …
The space agency announces the three companies that will carry out four new missions to the Moon at the end of 2028 as part of 'Moon Base'. More information: The hidden project for the Moon that is already underway: this will work the full connection by laser beam
Space News
Los Angeles Weekly TimesNASA awards nearly $600 million in lunar lander missions
NASA selected three companies to fly four lunar lander missions worth nearly $600 million as part of its lunar base ambitions, as it weighs also launching a spare Mars rover. The post NASA awards nearly $600 million in lunar lander missions appeared first on SpaceNews.
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