NASA announced on May 26, 2026, that it awarded contracts to space firms including Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Astrolab to develop robotic landers, rovers, and drones for upcoming lunar missions. The contracts are part of the agency's efforts to support the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon.
Blue Origin will work on a large cargo lander capable of delivering heavy equipment to the lunar surface, while Astrolab will provide a rover for transporting payloads. The contracts also include provisions for drones to assist in exploration and sample collection.
NASA emphasized that these partnerships are crucial for establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon. The selected companies will begin development immediately, with initial missions targeted for the late 2020s. Financial terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
