Firefly Aerospace Wins $93M NASA Lunar Lander Contract

NASA Contracts Firefly Aerospace for Lunar Lander Mission

A $93.3 million contract has been awarded by NASA to Firefly Aerospace. This contract designates Firefly to deliver a lunar lander module, equipped with scientific experiments, to the moon’s surface.

While Firefly will not be responsible for the launch itself, the company is tasked with providing both the spacecraft and its “Blue Ghost” lander for this 2023 mission.

Commercial Lunar Payload Services Initiative

This award is part of NASA’s ongoing Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. Under CLPS, multiple companies beyond traditional aerospace primes – including Blue Origin, Astrobotic, and Masten – have been chosen for comparable projects.

The opportunity was initially announced to CLPS partners in September, prompting competitive bids. Firefly Aerospace ultimately proved successful in securing the contract.

NASA's Embrace of Commercial Space

“We’re excited another CLPS provider has won its first task order award,” stated Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s associate administrator for science, in a public announcement.

Recent years have witnessed a growing trend of NASA leveraging the commercial sector for a wide range of services. This includes launch capabilities, as well as the manufacturing of both satellites and spacecraft.

Firefly’s Expanding Role with NASA

This isn’t Firefly’s initial engagement with NASA. Its subsidiary, Firefly Black, is scheduled to launch two cubesats as part of the Venture Class Launch Service Demo-2 mission.

However, this new lunar lander contract represents a significantly larger and more intricate undertaking, accompanied by a substantially increased financial investment.

The Blue Ghost Lander’s Inaugural Voyage

The upcoming mission will mark the first lunar journey for Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander. Development of this lander has been underway for several years, anticipating the resurgence of lunar exploration.

The lander will accommodate 10 scientific payloads, as detailed by NASA. These include a novel laser reflector array and an experimental computer designed for radiation tolerance.

Currently, Blue Ghost has a payload capacity of 50kg remaining, potentially available for additional lunar deliveries.

Destination: Mare Crisium

The mission’s target is Mare Crisium, a basin located on the near side of the moon. Data gathered from this mission is expected to provide valuable insights for future lunar visits and potential habitation efforts.

Launch Vehicle Considerations

Firefly Aerospace will also provide the spacecraft necessary to transport the lander to lunar orbit. The company is currently evaluating launch options to achieve this initial Earth departure.

By 2023, a diverse selection of launch vehicles is anticipated to be available. Firefly’s Alpha launch vehicle is slated for its first flight in March, and the more powerful Beta vehicle may be operational by 2023, though a commitment to a lunar insertion mission has not yet been made.