Firefly Aerospace has been awarded a $179 million contract by NASA to carry out its third lunar mission, set to land on the Moon in 2028. This mission is part of NASA’s broader Artemis program and the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which aims to facilitate robotic exploration of the Moon in preparation for future human missions.
The primary objective of this mission is to deliver six scientific instruments to the Moon’s Gruithuisen Domes, a region on the near side of the Moon known for its ancient volcanic activity. The Gruithuisen Domes have long been a point of interest for scientists studying the Moon’s geological history, as they are believed to have been formed by magma rich in silica, similar to granite. Understanding the formation of these domes will offer insights into planetary processes and the Moon’s evolution.
As part of the mission, Firefly will deploy instruments designed to study a variety of lunar phenomena. These include the Lunar Vulkan Imaging and Spectroscopy Explorer, a system of stationary and mobile devices that will analyze rocks and regolith at the landing site, and a robotic arm that will collect and filter lunar regolith. Additionally, experiments will test solar power technology on the lunar surface, measure neutron radiation, and monitor the Moon’s surface environment.
Notably, this mission will also feature “mobility” for some instruments, allowing them to move across the lunar surface after landing. This added capability will enable more extensive scientific exploration and data collection than previous missions.
Firefly’s third mission follows two earlier lunar deliveries scheduled for 2025 and 2026. With the successful execution of these missions, Firefly is playing an integral role in NASA’s efforts to explore and understand the Moon, contributing to the U.S. space agency’s goal of establishing a sustainable lunar presence.
By advancing lunar exploration through partnerships with private companies like Firefly, NASA continues to lay the groundwork for its ambitious Moon-to-Mars exploration plans.