{"id":89064,"date":"2026-06-30T15:16:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T19:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nasa-awards-three-companies-contracts-for-new-moon-lander-missions\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T15:16:26","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T19:16:26","slug":"nasa-awards-three-companies-contracts-for-new-moon-lander-missions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nasa-awards-three-companies-contracts-for-new-moon-lander-missions\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA Awards Three Companies Contracts for New Moon Lander Missions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"299\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782846985710.jpg?resize=450%2C299&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89063\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782846985710.jpg?w=450&amp;ssl=1 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782846985710.jpg?resize=300%2C199&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced Tuesday that three private aerospace companies have been chosen to deliver additional uncrewed landers to the lunar surface as part of the agency&#8217;s ongoing Artemis moonbase program.<\/p><p>Firefly Aerospace and Intuitive Machines each received contracts valued at $144 million, with each company tasked with sending one lander to the moon. Astrobotic was awarded a larger deal worth $280 million, covering two separate lander missions to the moon&#8217;s surface.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA has selected three private companies to send robotic landers to the moon as part of the agency&#8217;s Artemis moonbase initiative. The contracts, announced Tuesday by NASA&#8217;s administrator, are valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines are the firms chosen for the missions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":89063,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[838],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-89064","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782846985710.jpg?fit=450%2C299&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-naw","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":43215,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/japanese-space-company-postpones-moon-mission-until-2030-cuts-jobs\/","url_meta":{"origin":89064,"position":0},"title":"Japanese Space Company Postpones Moon Mission Until 2030, Cuts Jobs","author":"Admin","date":"March 27, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Tokyo-based spacecraft company ispace announced Friday it will delay its NASA-contracted lunar landing mission until 2030 and reduce its workforce following two unsuccessful moon landing attempts. The company plans to focus on launching five lunar satellites by 2030 while consolidating operations between its Japanese and U.S. divisions.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/science\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774599777026.jpg?fit=450%2C303&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":28828,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nasa-overhauls-moon-mission-plans-adds-extra-flight-before-lunar-landing\/","url_meta":{"origin":89064,"position":1},"title":"NASA Overhauls Moon Mission Plans, Adds Extra Flight Before Lunar Landing","author":"Admin","date":"February 27, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"NASA announced Friday it's inserting an additional Artemis mission before attempting to land astronauts on the moon, responding to safety concerns and lengthy delays between flights. The space agency is revising its timeline with moon landings now targeted for 2028 instead of the original earlier schedule.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/science\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772210801602.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772210801602.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772210801602.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772210801602.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":72251,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nasa-awards-contracts-for-moon-base-equipment-including-rovers-and-drones\/","url_meta":{"origin":89064,"position":2},"title":"NASA Awards Contracts for Moon Base Equipment Including Rovers and Drones","author":"Admin","date":"May 26, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"NASA has awarded hundreds of millions in contracts to four companies for the initial phase of establishing a lunar base. The space agency plans to have landers, rovers, and drones delivered to the moon's south pole before astronauts return in 2028.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/science\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779831538801.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779831538801.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779831538801.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779831538801.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":78987,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nasa-names-four-person-crew-for-artemis-iii-space-mission-training\/","url_meta":{"origin":89064,"position":3},"title":"NASA Names Four-Person Crew for Artemis III Space Mission Training","author":"Admin","date":"June 9, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The space agency has selected four astronauts who will practice lunar landing procedures while orbiting Earth. The crew will test docking maneuvers with lunar landers as part of preparations for future moon missions.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/science\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781026656224.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781026656224.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781026656224.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781026656224.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":75559,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/blue-origin-rocket-blast-leaves-key-launch-equipment-intact-despite-explosion\/","url_meta":{"origin":89064,"position":4},"title":"Blue Origin Rocket Blast Leaves Key Launch Equipment Intact Despite Explosion","author":"Admin","date":"June 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Jeff Bezos' space company reported that essential fuel storage systems and critical launch infrastructure survived last week's rocket explosion at Cape Canaveral. The blast destroyed some equipment but left key components needed for NASA's moon missions undamaged.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/science\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780413750193.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780413750193.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780413750193.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780413750193.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780413750193.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44604,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nasa-prepares-historic-return-to-moon-after-50-year-gap\/","url_meta":{"origin":89064,"position":5},"title":"NASA Prepares Historic Return to Moon After 50+ Year Gap","author":"Admin","date":"March 30, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"NASA is set to launch its first crew to the moon in over five decades as part of the Artemis II mission. Four astronauts will embark on a 10-day journey around the moon, marking a crucial step in America's efforts to return humans to the lunar surface by 2028.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/science\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774888610938.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89064","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=89064"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89064\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/89063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89064"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89064"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89064"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}