In the quest to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence, NASA has embarked on an innovative approach to lunar exploration through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. Established in 2018, CLPS aims to harness the capabilities of American companies to deliver science and technology payloads to the lunar surface, paving the way for future human missions and a thriving lunar economy.
The Vision and Goals of CLPS
The CLPS program represents a paradigm shift in NASA’s approach to lunar exploration, leveraging the expertise and agility of the private sector to accelerate progress and reduce costs. By partnering with commercial companies, NASA seeks to achieve several key objectives:
- Deliver scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to the Moon to advance our understanding of the lunar environment and prepare for human missions.
- Foster the development of a robust commercial lunar industry, creating new opportunities for economic growth and innovation.
- Reduce the cost and risk of lunar missions by utilizing a diverse portfolio of commercial providers and mission architectures.
- Establish a sustainable presence on the Moon through regular payload deliveries and the development of lunar infrastructure.
Through CLPS, NASA is not only advancing its scientific and exploration goals but also catalyzing the growth of a vibrant lunar economy that could have far-reaching benefits for life on Earth.
How CLPS Works
Under the CLPS program, NASA solicits proposals from commercial companies to deliver payloads to the lunar surface. These payloads can include scientific instruments, technology demonstrations, and other cargo that supports NASA’s lunar exploration objectives. Companies are responsible for designing, building, and operating their own lunar landers, as well as securing launch services to transport the payloads to the Moon.
NASA awards CLPS contracts through a competitive process, evaluating proposals based on factors such as technical feasibility, cost, and alignment with the agency’s goals. Successful bidders are then eligible to compete for task orders, which are specific missions to deliver payloads to targeted locations on the lunar surface.
The CLPS contracts are structured as indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts, with a combined maximum value of $2.6 billion through 2028. This flexible approach allows NASA to select from a diverse range of providers and mission concepts, adapting to evolving scientific priorities and market conditions.
Current CLPS Providers and Missions
As of 2023, NASA has awarded CLPS contracts to five companies: Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, Firefly Aerospace, Draper, and SpaceX. These providers are currently developing lunar landers and preparing for upcoming missions to deliver NASA payloads to the Moon. Here’s a summary of the current status of each provider:
Astrobotic
Astrobotic, a Pittsburgh-based company, has won two CLPS task orders to date. The first mission, Peregrine Mission One, is scheduled to launch in 2024 on the inaugural flight of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket. The Peregrine lander will deliver 11 NASA payloads to the Gruithuisen Domes region of the Moon.
Astrobotic’s second CLPS mission, awarded in 2020, will use the larger Griffin lander to deliver NASA’s VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) to the lunar south pole in late 2024. VIPER will search for water ice and other potential resources that could support future human missions.
Intuitive Machines
Intuitive Machines, based in Houston, has been awarded three CLPS task orders. The company’s first mission, IM-1, launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in February 2024 and successfully landed its Nova-C lander near Malapert-A crater, becoming the first private company to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.
Intuitive Machines’ second mission, IM-2, is scheduled to launch in late 2024 and will deliver a drill and mass spectrometer to the lunar south pole to search for subsurface water ice. The company’s third mission, IM-3, is planned for early 2025 and will carry payloads, including a European Space Agency instrument, to the Reiner Gamma region.
Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace, headquartered in Cedar Park, Texas, has been awarded two CLPS task orders. The company’s first mission, Blue Ghost M1, is scheduled to launch in 2024 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and will deliver 10 NASA payloads to Mare Crisium.
In March 2023, Firefly was awarded a second CLPS contract for the Blue Ghost M2 mission, set to launch in 2026. This mission will deliver payloads to the far side of the Moon, including a communications relay satellite and a radio astronomy experiment.
Draper
In July 2022, NASA awarded a CLPS task order to Draper, a Massachusetts-based company, for the delivery of the Lunar Surface Electromagnetics Experiment-Lite (LuSEE-Lite) payload to the Schrödinger Basin on the far side of the Moon. The mission, scheduled for 2026, will use Draper’s APEX-1 lander to study the electromagnetic environment in this unique region.
SpaceX
SpaceX, the California-based company founded by Elon Musk, was selected as a CLPS provider in 2020 but has not yet been awarded a task order. The company is expected to use its Starship spacecraft, currently under development, for future lunar missions.
Challenges and Opportunities
While the CLPS program offers exciting opportunities for lunar exploration and commercial growth, it also presents significant challenges that must be addressed to ensure success.
One of the primary challenges is the technical complexity of landing on the Moon. The lunar environment is harsh and unforgiving, with extreme temperatures, radiation, and a lack of atmosphere. Lunar landers must be designed to withstand these conditions and navigate the challenging terrain of the lunar surface. Providers must also ensure the reliability and safety of their systems to protect valuable payloads and avoid costly failures.
Another challenge is the coordination and integration of CLPS missions with NASA’s broader Artemis program. As the number of commercial missions grows, NASA must ensure that these efforts align with the agency’s scientific and exploration objectives while avoiding duplication and conflicts. Effective communication and collaboration between NASA, CLPS providers, and international partners will be critical to the success of the program.
Despite these challenges, the CLPS program presents significant opportunities for scientific discovery, technological advancement, and economic growth. By leveraging the capabilities of the private sector, NASA can accelerate the pace of lunar exploration and pave the way for sustainable human presence on the Moon. The program also has the potential to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship in the space industry, creating new markets and business models that could have far-reaching benefits.
Looking to the Future
As the CLPS program continues to evolve, NASA and its commercial partners are looking ahead to an exciting future of lunar exploration and development. In the coming years, CLPS missions will deliver a wide range of scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface, advancing our understanding of the Moon and its potential for supporting human life.
Beyond the initial round of missions, NASA envisions a sustained cadence of commercial deliveries to the Moon, supporting the development of lunar infrastructure and the establishment of a permanent human presence. This could include the construction of habitats, power systems, and resource extraction facilities, as well as the deployment of rovers and other exploration vehicles.
The success of the CLPS program could also have implications for future exploration beyond the Moon. The technologies and capabilities developed through CLPS could be adapted for missions to other destinations in the solar system, such as Mars and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. By fostering a robust commercial space industry and demonstrating the viability of public-private partnerships, CLPS could serve as a model for future exploration efforts.
Summary
NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program represents a bold new approach to lunar exploration, one that harnesses the power of American industry to accelerate progress and open up new frontiers. By partnering with commercial providers to deliver payloads to the Moon, NASA is not only advancing its scientific and exploration goals but also catalyzing the growth of a thriving lunar economy.
As the first CLPS missions take flight and the program continues to evolve, we stand on the threshold of a new era of lunar exploration and development. The challenges are significant, but so too are the opportunities for discovery, innovation, and growth. Through the CLPS program, NASA and its commercial partners are laying the foundation for a sustainable human presence on the Moon and beyond, inspiring a new generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers to reach for the stars.