NASA Taps Astrobotic, Firefly, and Intuitive Machines for Four Moon Missions Worth $600M

NASA has selected three private companies to deliver science payloads to the Moon in late 2028, awarding contracts totaling nearly $600 million under the agency's Moon Base Program. The four missions, carried out by Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines, are designed to support the construction of humanity's first permanent outpost on another celestial world, according to nasa.gov.

nasa.govNASA Selects Three Companies for $600M in Moon Base Science Missions

"nearly $600 million"

The contracts represent a major investment in commercial lunar partnerships, with each company tasked with transporting NASA instruments to the lunar surface. The agency's announcement calls the initiative a critical step toward sustained exploration and infrastructure development beyond Earth.

"first outpost on another celestial world"

go.nasa.govNASA Selects Three Companies for Four Moon Base Missions in Late 2028

NASA officials see the late-2028 missions as part of a broader push to establish a lasting human presence on the Moon. The selected companies will carry a range of science instruments designed to gather data on the lunar environment, resources, and potential hazards, the agency reported.

The Moon Base Program also previews new opportunities for future commercial collaborations, signaling NASA's intent to rely on private partners for regular cargo and science deliveries. With these awards, the agency continues to shift from short-term exploration to building the infrastructure needed for a permanent lunar base.