Science & Tech · Space · 1 hr ago
NASA Awards Moon Base Contracts and Approves a Lunar Rover
At MAX POWER, NASA announced new contracts and plans for its Moon Base program.
The agency awarded six launch task orders worth about $1.3 billion, with missions assigned to SpaceX, Blue Origin, Arrow Science and Technology, Impulse and Relativity.
NASA also chose eight companies to compete for lunar deliveries under a 10-year contract worth up to $10 billion.
It approved PROMISE, a nuclear-powered rover made using spare parts and test models from the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers.
The rover will drill into the Moon to look for water ice and help NASA choose landing sites.
Blue Origin is set to land the rover on the Moon, with a launch targeted for late 2028 and an 18-month mission planned.
NASA also outlined a first test of energy, storage and wireless-power systems needed to support crewed missions at the lunar South Pole.
NASA announced Moon Base-related awards and approved the PROMISE lunar rover during MAX POWER on November 8, 2026.
The agency awarded six launch task orders worth about $1.3 billion and selected eight companies to compete for lunar deliveries under CLPS 2.
PROMISE will be a nuclear-powered rover designed to explore lunar nights and permanently shadowed regions and search for water ice.
NASA expects the rover mission to cost under $400 million, with a late 2028 launch targeted.
NASA also announced suppliers for a communications and solar tower intended to test energy systems for future crewed missions at the lunar South Pole.
- Who
- NASA announced the awards and approved the PROMISE rover.
- What
- The agency awarded launch task orders, selected companies for CLPS 2, approved a lunar rover and announced suppliers for a solar and communications tower.
- When
- November 8, 2026.
- Where
- The announcements were made at MAX POWER in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
- Why
- NASA said the awards and technology are part of its plans for Moon Base missions and future crewed missions at the lunar South Pole.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
NASA first floated the PROMISE rover.
Voyager Technologies acquired CLPS 1.0 vendor Astrobotic.
NASA announced Moon Base awards and approved the PROMISE rover at MAX POWER.
NASA is targeting a launch for the PROMISE rover.
- Launch task orders
- Six awards worth about $1.3 billion combined
- CLPS 2
- 10-year contract worth up to $10 billion; eight companies selected
- PROMISE mission cost
- Expected to be under $400 million
- PROMISE lander contract
- Blue Origin base contract of $94 million, with a $140 million option
- PROMISE target launch
- Late 2028
What people are saying
But when you’re trying to scale up to what we’re talking about today, you want to have the flexibility to move pieces around.
This is what it takes to do the Moon Base in the timeline we have set forth.
What we bring to the table is our international footprint, and the ability to take all of those unique perspectives and support from JAXA and other various space agencies, and transfer that knowledge.