NASA has selected three companies to carry science equipment to the moon in late 2028. The nearly U.S. $600 million in new contracts will support four new robotic landings to build the foundation for the agency’s Moon Base program.
As part of this growing lunar push, NASA is reviewing a proposal to send a unique rover named PROMISE to the moon’s south pole. Short for Polar Rover for Observation, Mapping, and In-Situ Exploration, PROMISE is an engineering test version of the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers currently on Mars. Unlike solar-powered moon robots, PROMISE uses a nuclear battery that generates heat and electricity from plutonium. This power source would allow the rover to survive the bitter cold of the two-week lunar night and explore permanently shadowed craters for signs of water ice.
Alongside the rover plans, the newly announced cargo flights will be handled through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. Astrobotic receives $297.9 million for two deliveries. Firefly Aerospace takes $144.2 million for one flight, and Intuitive Machines secures $148.3 million for its single mission. The companies will fly updated versions of landers that have already travelled to space to keep pace with a demanding launch schedule.
Every delivery will carry the same three scientific instruments to prepare the lunar surface for a permanent human presence. The equipment includes a stereo camera array to record how a spacecraft’s engine exhaust kicks up lunar dust. A laser device will act as a permanent location marker to help future spacecraft navigate. Finally, a radiation monitor will measure space radiation to help design safer missions for astronauts.
These commercial lunar flights frequently include international participation. Earlier and upcoming missions from providers like Astrobotic feature small scientific payloads from partner nations, including Canada. Canadian involvement in these lunar payload programmes highlights the collaborative nature of returning humans to the moon.
These commercial lunar flights frequently include international participation. All three selected companies have either previously flown or are currently scheduled to fly Canadian technology on their landers. Given this past history of Canadian involvement, it is highly possible that Canadian payloads could once again join these newly announced 2028 missions.
“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, a deputy associate administrator at NASA Headquarters.
Moving forward, NASA plans to ask companies for proposals on new lunar power systems, South Pole cameras, and a communication network to link the moon directly back to Earth.