NASA to Send Four Missions to the Moon

Each mission will use upgraded versions of previously flown lunar lander designs to support increased mission cadence.

On Tuesday, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced the selection of three companies to carry out four new lunar missions in late 2028 as part of its Moon Base Program.

Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines will deliver NASA science payloads to the lunar surface as the agency works toward establishing its first outpost on another celestial body.

Astrobotic has been awarded US$297.9 million for two deliveries, while Firefly Aerospace will receive US$144.2 million and Intuitive Machines US$ 148.3 million dollars, each for one delivery. Each mission will use upgraded versions of previously flown lunar lander designs to support increased mission cadence.

Each delivery will carry three NASA payloads to the lunar surface, including Stereo Camera for Lunar Plume Surface Studies, Laser Retroreflector Array, and Linear Energy Transfer Spectrometer.

Four new Moon deliveries. One shared goal. @NASA is increasing the cadence of lunar exploration with four newly announced commercial lunar lander missions that will deliver NASA science and technology payloads to expand scientific discovery and help advance the capabilities… pic.twitter.com/02hKTkDReg

— NASA Moon Base (@NASAMoonBase) June 30, 2026

NASA said the newly announced awards will play a critical role in establishing the infrastructure for lunar surface operations.

“By flying the same science instruments on multiple landers, we will better understand potential hazards during landing and build out a global network of environmental data and location markers on the Moon,” said Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration at NASA Science Mission Directorate.

NASA is advancing the Moon Base program, a long-term lunar exploration and infrastructure initiative designed to enable sustained human presence and expanded scientific and commercial activity on the lunar surface.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

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