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NASA Doubles Down on Moon Base Plans
Newser • • science
Key Points:
- NASA has awarded nearly $600 million in contracts to Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines to deliver scientific equipment to the moon starting in 2028, advancing its plan for a long-term lunar outpost.
- The agency aims to spend about $20 billion over seven years to develop technology and scout potential building sites, particularly near the moon's south pole, as part of its lunar base initiative.
- Astrobotic will build two additional landers, while Firefly and Intuitive Machines will upgrade existing spacecraft that have previously flown in space.
- NASA is considering sending a test Mars rover named Promise to the moon and plans to solicit more payload proposals soon, despite delays in a Blue Origin moon mission due to a recent launch pad explosion.
- The agency targets beginning construction on the lunar base by 2029, with the current contracts focusing on demonstrating reliable and safe lunar landings in the first phase.
