NASA awards $179 million contract to Firefly Aerospace
To deliver 6 experiments on lunar surface
NASA is progressing with its ambitious plans to explore the Moon. It has awarded Firefly Aerospace a $179 million contract to deliver six experiments to the lunar surface. The mission, part of the space agency’s broader Artemis programme, is scheduled to land in the Gruithuisen Domes near the Moon in 2028.
Firefly’s task is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which facilitates the delivery of scientific payloads and technology demonstrations. The Gruithuisen Domes, an area of ancient lava flows, provide an opportunity to investigate the geological evolution of the Moon and the broader processes that shaped planetary bodies.
As part of the CLPS initiative, NASA aims to enhance its understanding of the Moon’s environment and contribute to preparations for future human missions. The CLPS programme allows robotic exploration of the lunar surface, expanding scientific knowledge and fostering a growing lunar economy by engaging with American commercial space companies.
Joel Kearns, NASA’s Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration, emphasised that this initiative supports scientific research and drives the future of lunar exploration. Understanding the formation of the Gruithuisen Domes, which may have been formed by silica-rich magma similar to granite, is key to answering fundamental questions about the Moon’s surface.
Firefly’s mission will include the delivery of a series of scientific payloads. The first lunar delivery, set for mid-January 2025, will land near Mons Latreille in Mare Crisium. A second mission, scheduled for 2026, will involve a satellite drop-off and a lunar surface delivery on the far side.
The 2028 mission, however, focuses on the Gruithuisen Domes and the nearby Sinus Viscositatus region. Due to their unusual composition, these domes have long intrigued scientists, and understanding their formation could offer insights into the Moon’s geological past. Notably, this mission will feature “mobility” for some scientific instruments, allowing them to traverse the lunar surface and opening new scientific investigation possibilities.
Firefly will deliver six instruments, including the Lunar Vulkan Imaging and Spectroscopy Explorer, a suite of two stationary and three mobile instruments designed to study rocks and regolith at the summit of one of the Gruithuisen Domes.
This research will provide valuable insights into the Moon’s geological processes and the early history of planetary bodies. Another key mission component is Heimdall, a flexible camera system that will capture detailed images of the landing site from various angles.
Additionally, a robotic arm designed for Sample Acquisition, Morphology Filtering, and Probing of Lunar Regolith will collect and analyse lunar soil samples using technology adapted from NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover mission.
Other experiments include low-frequency radio observations, which will study the moon’s surface environment in radio frequencies, and a photovoltaic investigation of the lunar surface, which will test solar cells for future lunar missions. A Neutron Measurements experiment will characterise the neutron radiation environment of the Moon’s surface, providing data on hydrogen levels and elemental composition.
Through CLPS, NASA purchases services for lunar landings and surface operations from American companies, advancing scientific research and technology while fostering the Moon’s commercial development.
Two CLPS flights, scheduled for early 2025, will deliver NASA payloads to the Moon’s near side and south polar region. As the agency continues its efforts, it will establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, contributing to its broader Moon-Mars exploration goals.
Hero image: A rendering of Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar lander and a rover developed for the company’s third mission to the Moon as part of NASA’s CLPS initiative. Credit: Firefly Aerospace
