NASA announced new contract awards on Tuesday for the initial elements of a planned lunar base, including two rovers and their delivery to the Moon. The moves support the agency's Moon Base initiative ahead of a crewed return scheduled for no earlier than 2028.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the awards will keep momentum behind the return to the Moon. “For those waiting patiently, the grand return is close at hand, and we will not slow down,” he said. The agency selected Astrolab and Lunar Outpost to build one-ton rovers capable of 200 km range and autonomous driving. Astrolab will receive $219 million for its CLV-1 rover and Lunar Outpost $220 million for its Pegasus rover. Blue Origin won $280.4 million to deliver the rovers using its Blue Moon Mark 1 lander.
