NASA Accelerates Moon Base Plans with $590M in New Contracts to Dodge Delays
The space agency has awarded approximately $590 million to three private companies—Astrobotic, Firefly, and Intuitive Machines—for four missions that will deliver science instruments and other cargo to the lunar surface. Astrobotic received two missions, while Firefly and Intuitive Machines each received one. This marks a significant step in the first phase of NASA’s ambitious plan to build a permanent human settlement on the moon by the 2030s.
NASA also revealed it is considering repurposing a Mars rover prototype named Promise for lunar duties, as part of a broader strategy to use robotic vehicles to construct infrastructure that future astronauts can use. The agency expects the initial phase, which runs through 2028, to cost around $10 billion.
These moves come as NASA faces mounting pressure to stay ahead of China’s rapidly advancing space program. Lawmakers have repeatedly warned that China’s lunar ambitions could surpass U.S. capabilities if NASA falls behind schedule. The moon base is expected to cost a total of $30 billion once all phases are complete.
However, challenges remain. Blue Origin, a key partner, suffered a major setback in May when its New Glenn rocket exploded during a test, destroying launchpad infrastructure that will take months to repair. The explosion has delayed the debut of its massive Blue Moon lander, which was set to head to the lunar south pole. NASA program executive Carlos García-Galán said the agency is “looking at other options” to transport Blue Moon if needed.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has emphasized a hands-on approach. “We are going to take an active role alongside our partners, just as we did in the 1960s, to overcome setbacks, remove obstacles, and deliver the intended outcomes,” he said in a social media post after the New Glenn incident.
The moon base is a cornerstone of NASA’s Artemis program, which has already cost roughly $100 billion and included a historic crewed lunar flyby in April. The agency is now preparing to send humans back to the moon for the first time in five decades and to eventually establish a permanent settlement.
Funding for the project comes partly from the Trump administration’s infrastructure bill, which allocated about $10 billion to NASA over six years, though much of that is earmarked for specific projects. The agency also shelved plans for a lunar space station called Gateway in March, opting instead to focus resources on surface infrastructure.
García-Galán used the announcements to send a clear signal to industry partners. “If you are in industry and wondering if you need to make that investment to increase your high bay, to increase the number of supply chain vendors that you have—this is the signal to say: We’re here to stay with this demand, and we’re building a moon base,” he told CNN.
Despite the progress, experts warn of significant hurdles, including the lack of existing lunar infrastructure and unresolved technical issues like timekeeping on the moon. Still, the race to establish a permanent lunar presence is accelerating, with both the United States and China vying for dominance.
