NASA Outlines Lunar Delivery Awards and Nuclear-Powered Rover Plans
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NASA announced contracts and mission plans supporting its proposed Moon Base, including expanded commercial deliveries and a nuclear-powered rover. The supplied release, whose publication date is unknown, sets out a late-2028 launch target for the rover and new cargo transport demonstrations.
NASA announced awards intended to expand lunar science, transportation and infrastructure at an event at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The agency said eight companies were selected to compete for deliveries under CLPS 2, a 10-year contracting framework with a combined ceiling of $10 billion. It also raised the existing CLPS contract ceiling from $2.6 billion to $4.2 billion.
The release outlined PROMISE, a nuclear-powered rover designed to investigate the lunar South Pole, including potential ice resources. NASA targeted late 2028 for launch and an 18-month mission. Blue Origin received a $94 million base award to deliver the rover, with a further $140 million option tied to performance. The release’s publication date was not supplied.
The plans link surface exploration with the transport needed to deliver lunar infrastructure. NASA says PROMISE could operate through lunar nights and in permanently shadowed areas, gathering information for landing-site selection and resource assessment. The CLPS 2 ceiling represents potential contracting capacity, rather than a commitment to spend the full amount.
Source
NASA
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