By Sarah Cope | 2026-07-21

The US space agency has awarded nearly $600 million in new contracts for robotic missions that will support construction of a permanent base near the moon's south pole.

The move adds detail to NASA's Moon Base program, which earlier this year shifted its focus from orbiting infrastructure to long-term lunar surface operations.

On June 30, the agency selected Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines to deliver four cargo missions beginning in 2028.

The landers will carry scientific instruments and technology demonstrations that will help prepare a site on the moon's surface for future human crews.

The awards build on contracts announced in May, when NASA selected companies to develop crewed and uncrewed lunar rovers, known as lunar terrain vehicles, cargo landers, and autonomous drones.

The missions comprise the early stages of the program, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on the moon.

NASA introduced the Moon Base program in March after restructuring its Artemis exploration campaign. Rather than centering future operations on the Gateway lunar space station, the agency shifted its emphasis to a permanent surface outpost, announcing plans to invest about $20 billion over seven years.

The base will be built near the lunar south pole, where permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) are believed to contain water ice.

This ice could potentially serve as a source of drinking water for astronauts after it undergoes an extensive purification process to remove contaminants.

But to date, purifying lunar water in-situ has never been demonstrated on the moon's surface, according to the Canadian Space Agency, which is participating in an initiative to tackle the challenge, along with others.

If this water resource can be tapped and separated into hydrogen and oxygen, it also could be used for rocket propellant and life support systems, reducing the amount of material that must be launched from Earth.

Phased construction plans

NASA’s moon base construction will proceed in phases, with the initial robotic missions surveying landing sites, mapping the surface, and testing equipment.

Phase two missions will deliver power systems, communications equipment, and mobility vehicles before astronauts begin assembling permanent infrastructure; while the third phase aims to create a sustainable presence on the moon.

The eventual plan is that a rotating cadre of astronauts will be stationed at the moon base, much as the International Space Station operates today.

The agency is actively planning pressurized habitats, which would allow crews to live and work without spacesuits, along with a surface power grid that distributes electricity between different facilities.

NASA said the planned robotic missions will carry scientific payloads while collecting engineering data needed for future construction.

The agency also plans additional competitions for cargo landers, communications and navigation satellites in lunar orbit, power technology demonstrations, and other infrastructure needed to support surface operations.

As part of its June 30 announcement, officials said they are evaluating whether hardware originally developed for Mars exploration could be adapted for lunar missions.

This includes a hybrid engineering development version of the Mars Perseverance and Curiosity rovers known as the polar rover for observation, mapping and in-situ exploration (PROMISE).

Agency experts will define potential opportunities for PROMISE to characterize the lunar surface, subsurface, and prospect for resources.

In addition, NASA plans to solicit proposals in the coming months for lunar landers to deliver a power and avionics technology demonstration, another science manifest, and a lunar south pole optical imager.

NASA also will seek proposals for Moon Base technology demonstrations and a lunar communications and navigation relay constellation, a network of satellites that will improve communications and positioning between the Earth and moon.

The technology required for a permanent lunar outpost is largely still in development.

NASA plans to demonstrate autonomous construction equipment, surface power systems, pressurized habitats, communications networks, and vehicles capable of operating through the moon's two-week lunar night.

The robotic missions that are in development will test those systems before astronauts rely on them.