A suite of new contracts announced by NASA aims to enhance exploration and infrastructure capabilities for the Moon Base, including advancements in robotic deliveries, a nuclear-powered rover, and launch services.
NASA announced on Saturday a significant expansion of its Moon Base initiatives during the MAX POWER aerospace expo and air show at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The agency detailed a series of awards and mission updates intended to bolster its lunar exploration, science, and infrastructure capabilities, as it seeks to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon’s South Pole.
“We are building the Moon Base mission by mission,” stated NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Today’s announcements expand nearly every part of that campaign, using the playbook that carried NASA through its greatest eras: fly often, learn, apply those lessons, and get more better and more capable with every mission. When our astronauts return to the Moon, they will arrive with the first elements of the Moon Base already waiting for them on the surface.”
Investment in Lunar Logistics
As part of its ongoing efforts, NASA selected eight companies for the next phase of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, aimed at enhancing the cargo lander network essential for Moon Base support. The companies chosen under the new CLPS 2 contract are Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines, ispace-U.S., Lockheed Martin Space, Northrop Grumman Space Systems, SpaceX, and Voyager Technologies. These companies will compete for future lunar delivery missions, facilitating transport of NASA’s scientific, technological, and infrastructure payloads to the Moon.
The CLPS 2 framework is a 10-year, multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity master contract that holds a combined maximum value of $10 billion. Additionally, NASA has increased the value of the existing CLPS 1.0 contract from $2.6 billion to $4.2 billion to support initial objectives for the Moon Base. The original CLPS contract is set to remain active through November 2028, with a potential five-year extension to complete awarded lunar deliveries until November 2033.
Development of Nuclear-Powered Rover
In a further advancement, NASA is pressing forward with the development of the Polar Rover for Observation, Mapping, and In-Situ Exploration (PROMISE). This six-wheeled, nuclear-powered rover is designed to land at the Moon’s South Pole, where it will conduct surface and subsurface characterization, assess resource potential, and gather data crucial for future exploration and infrastructure development. The rover’s ability to operate during long lunar nights and in permanently shadowed regions is pivotal for sustaining human presence on the Moon.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California will manage the PROMISE mission, utilizing a combination of spare parts and engineering models from NASA’s Mars rovers, Curiosity and Perseverance. This approach not only reduces costs but also expedites the integration and testing phases for the rover. NASA has confirmed that the hardware is compatible with the lunar environment and can withstand the extreme conditions found at the Moon’s South Pole.
The rover will be equipped with a drill to extract lunar regolith from depths of approximately three feet, spectrometers for analyzing surface material, and sensors to monitor temperature and radiation levels. Additionally, it will incorporate advanced computing systems and autonomy sensors. The launch of PROMISE is targeted for late 2028, with an anticipated mission duration of 18 months.
Blue Origin has been awarded a base contract of $94 million for the delivery of PROMISE, with performance-based options that could increase the contract value by an additional $140 million.
Launch and Transportation Capabilities
To facilitate the delivery of Moon Base infrastructure, NASA has initiated the Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. Six task orders were awarded to Arrow Science and Technology, Blue Origin, and Impulse Space to integrate and transport Moon Base cargo. The total value of these task orders is approximately $1.3 billion under the VADR contract, which has a maximum total value of $5 billion.
These missions will encompass various objectives, including risk reduction for long-term human spaceflight. The first mission type will focus on verifying communication and navigation methods during the journey from Earth orbit to the Moon. Another category aims to prepare the lunar South Pole for human exploration by deploying mobile drones to survey the surface. The third mission type will test navigation technologies and demonstrate operations in multiple cislunar orbits.
SpaceX has also been selected for a Cislunar Communications Deployment Demonstration, which will involve launching communications satellites to cislunar space in 2028. This initiative is expected to enhance lunar communications networks, ensuring connectivity for astronauts and mission control.
Infrastructure Development and Future Plans
To further extend infrastructure capabilities on the Moon, NASA plans to purchase commercial components for a Mini-Communications and Solar Tower (miniCAST). This system will combine power generation and communications capabilities to support future Moon Base activities. Contracts have been awarded to Honeybee Robotics for energy storage, Redwire for power generation, and Yank Technologies for wireless power transfer.
NASA anticipates the initial work will commence within months, focusing on component assembly rather than a major integrated system. Additionally, a separate solicitation for fully integrated power systems is expected in early 2027.
As part of its broader lunar exploration strategy, NASA intends to release calls under its Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP-3 B) to address high-priority data gaps for Moon Base development. This initiative will gather essential information to reduce risks and support the technologies necessary for sustained operations on the Moon’s South Pole.
Through its ongoing Moon missions, NASA aims not only to establish an enduring human presence on the lunar surface but also to lay the groundwork for future crewed missions to Mars.
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