NASA secures contracts for lunar rovers and drones as Moon Base perimeter concept takes shape
With delivery scheduled for 2028, the initiative marks a significant step in US lunar infrastructure, raising questions regarding the Outer Space Treaty and safety zones amid competition with China-led exploration efforts.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced the awarding of initial contracts for the agency’s Moon Base initiative, outlining a strategy to establish sustained infrastructure on the lunar surface. The move aims to maintain momentum for the space agency’s return to the Moon, with a focus on mobility systems and high-resolution surface mapping ahead of future crewed missions.
Under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services framework, NASA awarded Astrolab $219 million and Lunar Outpost $220 million to construct approximately one-ton rovers. Astrolab’s Crewed Lunar Vehicle (CLV-1) and Lunar Outpost’s Pegasus rover are designed with a range of 200 km and the capability for autonomous driving guided by Earth-based operators, as well as manual control by astronauts. These vehicles are scheduled for delivery to the lunar surface in 2028.
Blue Origin has been awarded $280.4 million to provide the delivery services for these rovers using its Blue Moon Mark 1 lander. This contract increases Blue Origin’s role in NASA’s lunar plans, following its previous agreement to deliver the VIPER vehicle and its involvement with the larger Mark 2 lander intended for eventual human missions.
A central component of the early Moon Base program is the MoonFall initiative, led by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The project involves the development of three or four drones, each weighing approximately 225 kg, which will be delivered by Firefly Aerospace before the Artemis IV mission, no earlier than 2028. These drones are tasked with scouting for water ice in permanently shadowed regions, assessing soil mechanics, and improving surface imagery resolution from one metre to one centimetre.
NASA officials highlighted the strategic implications of using retired drones to establish a perimeter for the base, potentially serving as beacons or cell towers. This concept of a "safety zone" under the Artemis Accords has drawn scrutiny regarding the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits national sovereignty claims. The move occurs against the backdrop of direct competition with a China-led initiative for lunar south pole exploration, with NASA emphasising the need to respect international treaties while securing areas of scientific interest.
