On June 30 (local time), NASA announced the selection of three companies to carry out four new moon missions by the end of 2028, within the framework of the agency's Moon Base Program.
Three companies, Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace and Intuitive Machines, will bring NASA's scientific equipment to the surface of the Moon, as the agency is striving to build its first outpost on another celestial body.
According to NASA, Astrobotic was awarded a contract worth 297.9 million USD for two transportation trips, while Firefly Aerospace will receive 144.2 million USD and Intuitive Machines will receive 144.3 million USD, each company for one transportation trip. Each mission will use upgraded versions from the lunar landing craft designs previously launched to support increased mission frequency.
Each transportation will carry three NASA scientific devices to the surface of the Moon, including a Spherical Camera studying the Moon's Bullet Surface, a Laser Reflection Plate, and a Linear Energy Spectrometer.
NASA said the newly announced contracts will play a key role in building infrastructure for activities on the Moon's surface.
By flying with the same scientific equipment on many different landing ships, we will better understand the potential risks in the landing process and build a global network of environmental data and positioning markers on the Moon," said Joel Kearns, Deputy Director of Exploration at NASA's Science Mission Board of Directors.
NASA is promoting the Moon Base Program, a long-term lunar exploration and infrastructure construction initiative, designed to maintain a sustainable human presence and expand scientific and commercial activities on the lunar surface.
