Commercial Lunar Payload Services

History

NASA had long planned lunar resource exploration, and after the Resource Prospector rover concept study was cancelled in April 2018, officials stated that lunar surface exploration would continue via commercial lander services under a new CLPS program. Later that month, NASA announced CLPS as the first step in soliciting flights to the Moon. A Draft Request for Proposal was issued in April 2018, followed by a formal Request for Proposal in September 2018.

On November 29, 2018, NASA named the first nine companies eligible to bid on indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts with a combined maximum value of $2.6 billion over ten years. In February 2018, NASA solicited Lunar Surface Instrument and Technology Payloads that could become CLPS customers, with proposals due by November 2018 and January 17, 2019; annual calls for proposals are made. On May 31, 2019, NASA awarded contracts to Astrobotic ($79.5 million), Intuitive Machines ($77 million), and OrbitBeyond ($97 million).

OrbitBeyond dropped out in July 2019, though it remained eligible for future bids. By January 2024, Astrobotic's award had grown to $108 million for five NASA science payloads, and Intuitive Machines' contract had increased to $118 million. On July 1, 2019, a $5.6 million contract was awarded to Astrobotic and Carnegie Mellon University to develop the MoonRanger rover, a 13 kg vehicle intended to carry payloads for CLPS, with launch envisioned for 2021 or 2022.

Overview

The competitive CLPS program is expected to lower lunar exploration costs, accelerate a robotic return to the Moon, enable sample return and resource prospecting in the south polar region, and foster commercial industry growth. Payload development is managed under the Development and Advancement of Lunar Instrumentation (DALI) program, with goals of exploration, in situ resource utilization, and lunar science. Early payloads are likely small due to limited lander capacity, and initial landers and rovers will demonstrate technologies such as precision landing, power generation, ISRU, cryogenic fluid management, autonomous operations, and advanced avionics.

Only US launch vehicles may be used. Lander and rover masses can range from miniature to 1000 kg, with a 500 kg lander targeted for 2022. Contracts last up to 10 years, with firm-fixed price task orders issued as needs arise. NASA assumes a cost of one million dollars per kilogram delivered to the lunar surface, subject to revision after actual costs are known.

Contractors

On May 21, 2019, three companies received lander contracts: Astrobotic Technology, Intuitive Machines, and OrbitBeyond. On July 29, 2019, NASA granted OrbitBeyond's request to be released from its contract due to internal corporate challenges. On November 18, 2019, five new contractors were added to the pool eligible to bid for large payload deliveries. On April 8, 2020, NASA selected Masten Space Systems for a South Pole mission, but Masten filed for bankruptcy in July 2022, leading to cancellation.

On February 4, 2021, Firefly Aerospace was awarded a CLPS contract for a 2023 mission. On July 21, 2022, Draper Laboratories received a contract. On August 29, 2024, Intuitive Machines received another task order carrying six payloads. On July 29, 2025, Firefly was awarded a fourth task order (Blue Ghost-4) to carry a Canadian Space Agency lunar rover.

On June 30, 2026, NASA announced awards for four additional missions: two using Astrobotic Peregrine landers, one using a Firefly Blue Ghost lander, and one using an Intuitive Machines Nova-C lander.

Payload selection

Under the CLPS program, NASA contracts for landers and their missions separately from the scientific instruments they carry. Those payloads are built either at NASA centers or by private companies under their own agreements. The first group of science payloads was built at NASA facilities to meet tight deadlines before the earliest flights, while later payloads have come from universities and industry. NASA plans to issue annual calls for new payload opportunities.

The Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program, part of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, manages CLPS contracts and chooses the lunar science instruments. This program aims to fly at least two CLPS missions each year. On February 21, 2019, NASA announced the first twelve payloads and experiments, which will launch on separate missions. By February 2021, NASA had awarded four CLPS lander missions to carry these payloads.

The instruments include a Linear Energy Transfer Spectrometer, a Magnetometer, a low-frequency radio experiment, three instruments for entry, descent, and landing data, Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies, a landing monitor for exosphere effects, Navigation Doppler Lidar for precise velocity and ranging, and a Near-Infrared Volatile Spectrometer System.