NASA to send four Moon missions by late 2028 for base
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NASA has awarded nearly $600 million for four commercial Moon landings planned for late 2028. Each mission will carry the same trio of science instruments to improve navigation, study lunar dust, and map radiation. The agency also unveiled plans for rovers, satellites, and cargo missions to support a permanent lunar base.
The Missions
NASA selected four commercial landers under its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, with contracts totaling nearly $600 million. Each lander will carry three identical instruments: a navigation beacon, a dust monitor, and a radiation detector. The missions are scheduled to launch in late 2028, targeting different sites near the lunar south pole.
Science Goals
The instruments aim to solve key challenges for a permanent base. The navigation beacon will test a lunar GPS-like system, while the dust monitor will measure the abrasive particles that plagued Apollo missions. The radiation detector will map the Moon's radiation environment, critical for astronaut safety. Data from all four landers will be compared to validate models.
Infrastructure Plans
Beyond the landers, NASA revealed plans for new rovers, communication satellites, and additional cargo missions. These elements are part of the agency's broader Moon to Mars architecture. The rovers will support surface exploration, while satellites will provide continuous communication and navigation services for future crews.
Artemis II Crew Launch
On April 1, 2026, four astronauts launched on Artemis II, a 10-day test flight around the Moon. The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
Artemis II Launch Details
The Artemis II mission is scheduled to lift off from Kennedy Space Center on April 1. The two-hour launch window starts at 6:24 p.m. EDT (2224 UTC).
What's Next
NASA is set to finalize lander contracts and begin integration testing by mid-2027. It remains unclear which commercial providers will build the landers and whether the 2028 timeline will hold given technical and budgetary challenges.
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NASA to send four Moon missions by late 2028 for base
