NASA announced that three companies have been selected to carry out four new missions to the Moon by the end of 2028 as part of its Moon Base Program.
The three companies, Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines, will deliver NASA's scientific payloads to the lunar surface, as the space agency seeks to establish its first outpost on another celestial body.
According to NASA, Astrobotic has received a contract worth $297.9 million (1 US dollar = Rp17,899) for two deliveries, while Firefly Aerospace will receive $144.2 million and Intuitive Machines $148.3 million each for one delivery.
Each mission will use an upgraded version of a previously flown lunar lander design to support increased frequency of lunar missions.
Each delivery will carry three NASA payloads to the lunar surface, including the Stereo Camera for Lunar Plume Surface Studies, the Laser Retroreflector Array, and the Linear Energy Transfer Spectrometer.
NASA says the newly announced contract awards will play a critical role in building infrastructure for lunar surface operations.
"By flying the same scientific instruments on multiple landers, we will gain a better understanding of potential landing hazards and build a global network of environmental data and location markers on the Moon," said Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration in NASA's Science Mission Directorate.
NASA is developing the Lunar Base Program, a long-term lunar exploration and infrastructure initiative designed to enable a sustained human presence and expand scientific and commercial activities on the lunar surface.
