NASA selects Astrobotic Intuitive Machines Firefly

NASA selects Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, Firefly to build lunar landers for a future moon base

In a significant development, NASA has announced the selection of three companies - Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and Firefly Aerospace - to receive a total of $600 million to land four missions on the lunar surface in late 2028. The companies will design, develop, and launch the spacecraft, with each flight utilizing an updated version of an already-flown lander design and carrying identical scientific payloads. The four endeavors are part of a grand overhaul of NASA's lunar ambitions, with the agency aiming to establish a sustained human presence on the moon. According to NASA, the selected companies will help build a permanent base on the moon's surface, with Astrobotic conducting two of the four missions. The scientific payloads will include a high-tech camera, a laser navigational array, and an instrument to study radiation. "We're building a proving ground for Moon Base operations," said Ryan Stephan, NASA's Moon Base acting director of cargo landers, in a statement. "Accelerating our Moon mission ordering cadence and launch opportunities enable us to move quickly to learn, iterate, and improve." The announcement comes as NASA is also considering sending a backup, nuclear-powered Mars rover to the moon. The rover, nicknamed "Promise," is a hybrid engineering development version of the Mars Perseverance and Curiosity rovers built at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. With a multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG), Promise would be able to survive the 14-day lunar night, allowing it to operate continuously and explore the lunar surface in greater detail. The decision to repurpose the Mars rover for a lunar mission is seen as a strategic pivot, with NASA looking to accelerate its lunar ambitions while also addressing the challenges of exploring the moon's surface. The move is also driven by economic considerations, with the agency seeking to make the most of its existing hardware and technologies. As NASA moves forward with its lunar plans, the agency is also exploring the use of nuclear power in space. The use of nuclear power is seen as a crucial step in establishing a sustainable human presence on the moon and beyond. With the ability to provide reliable and long-lasting power, nuclear reactors could enable the development of permanent bases on the lunar surface, as well as support deeper space missions. However, the use of nuclear power in space also raises important questions about safety and governance. As experts note, the development of nuclear power sources in space must be accompanied by robust safety protocols and international cooperation to ensure the responsible use of this technology. As the space agency moves forward with its ambitious plans, the selection of Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and Firefly Aerospace marks an important step towards establishing a sustained human presence on the moon. With the help of these companies, NASA is poised to make significant progress in its lunar ambitions, paving the way for a new era of space exploration and discovery.

What to watch next:

- The launch of Astrobotic's Griffin lander, scheduled for later this year - The development of NASA's Space Reactor-1 Freedom mission, which aims to demonstrate nuclear electric propulsion in deep space - The progress of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface by 2028 - The outcome of NASA's consideration of sending the Promise rover to the moon

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