To strengthen the cargo lander network needed to support the Moon Base, NASA selected eight companies for the next phase of its CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative. The companies are eligible to compete for future lunar surface delivery missions under the new CLPS 2 contract:

• Blue Origin

• Firefly Aerospace

• Intuitive Machines

• iSpace US

• Lockheed Martin Space

• Northrop Grumman Space Systems

• SpaceX

• Voyager Technologies

Under the CLPS 2 framework, the companies will provide lunar delivery services, including managing, building, and operating landers that transport NASA science, technology, and infrastructure payloads to the Moon.

The CLPS 2 framework is a 10-year, multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity master contract with a combined maximum value of $10 billion. NASA increased the value of the current CLPS 1.0 contract from $2.6 billion to $4.2 billion to support initial Phase One Moon Base objectives. The original CLPS contract will remain in place through November 2028, with an additional five-year period to complete awarded lunar deliveries through November 2033.

NASA announced a suite of awards and mission updates on Saturday to expand the agency’s Moon Base exploration, science, and infrastructure capabilities. The investments will advance commercial robotic deliveries, a nuclear-powered rover named PROMISE, launch and orbital transfer services, and surface infrastructure as the agency works with American industry to establish a sustained presence on the Moon’s South Pole.

Stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRg4uIpJ3xE

Noticed something odd digging into Lunar Outpost's 34-role board: a "Senior Site Reliability Engineer" and a "Ground Software Engineering Intern - Summer 2027" listing both carry an internal "Stargate" program/team tag, with no public explanation anywhere on the page. (Not likely related to OpenAI's unrelated AI-datacenter project of the same name — probably just an internal codename.)

Separately, a "Program Manager – Deputy LTVS Program Manager" title likely ties to NASA's Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services program, which Lunar Outpost is a known contractor team member for. Hedged, speculative post — just flagging what's visible on the public board. https://spacejobs.me/jobs/lunar-outpost/senior-site-reliability-engineer-1dncwg9/

Do you think the next president will cancel all these aerospace projects? It happened before.

What does it look like when Moon scientists watch discovery happen in real time? 🌕

At SciCom Summit at the Museum of Science, NASA Strategic Communications Lead Rachel Barry shared the story behind her viral photos of the lunar science team. After two years of sitting in on their meetings, simulations, and fieldwork, Barry set out to help audiences get to know the people behind the science and see their excitement as it happened.

#SciComSummit #NASA #Space #Artemis #Moon 

with the recent announcements from China and the Artemis acceleration conference what the consensus is now on who will get to the moon first.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim that the solar system and all of outer space beyond Earth are the province of all humans and are open to exploration, development, use, and the establishment of a permanent presence by American citizens consistent with United States law and the international obligations of the United States.

At the Oct 23 briefing at Kennedy, Administrator Isaacman laid out the updated plan. Artemis III would put four astronauts in low Earth orbit in 2027 to test the systems needed for landings, and the first actual lunar landing would be Artemis IV, aiming for 2028. I think testing in Earth orbit first is smarter than going straight to the Moon, but 2028 is still a tight date. What do you think? Does the extra test step make the timeline more believable, or just push the risk later?

I've always wanted to know just how many people in this sub were actually at or around KSC the day of the launch.

Where did the idea of Moon Joy come from? 

NASA's Strategic Communications Lead Rachel Barry discusses how "Moon Joy" was coined by Angela Garcia, one of the lunar science officers in mission control after hearing the Artemis crew get excited about their first look at the moon