Contract selection and awardees
The United States space agency NASA announced on Tuesday the award of three contracts to separate companies. The contracts cover four distinct scientific missions that are scheduled to launch between late 2028 and early 2029. Each contractor will be responsible for a specific element, ranging from the development of a new rover prototype to the delivery of payload instruments for the upcoming lunar base.
Technical focus
A key component of the program is the engineering version of the PROMISE rover, which will undergo testing in the lunar environment. The rover is designed to collect surface samples and support infrastructure for a sustained lunar presence. Additional sensor suites will be developed to analyze regolith composition and radiation levels.
Timeline and milestones
The missions will be executed in multiple phases. The first two launches are planned for the fourth quarter of 2028, followed by two more launches in the first half of 2029. Each mission will carry a dedicated payload targeting scientific objectives such as water‑ice detection and in‑situ resource utilization experiments.
Implications for the lunar base
These missions are integral to NASA’s long‑term strategy of establishing a permanent human foothold on the Moon. By integrating robotics, advanced sensing, and material testing, the program aims to lay the groundwork for future crewed operations.
- NASA awards three contracts for four lunar missions.
- Engineering prototype of the PROMISE rover to be developed and tested.
- Launch window: late 2028 through mid‑2029.