3 Private Moon Lander Concepts Make NASA's Short List

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Moon Express's MX-1 Lander
Moon Express's MX-1 Lander for NASA's Lunar CATALYST project. (Image credit: Moon Express, Inc.)

NASA has shortlisted three potential commercial partners for non-funded agreements as part of the agency's quest to land robotic spacecraft on the moon.

The companies — Astrobotic Technology Inc., Masten Space Systems Inc. and Moon Express Inc. — will now proceed to the next stage of negotiations for the Lunar Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown (Lunar CATALYST) initiative.

While NASA will not provide money, the agency is prepared to offered assistance in technical matters, access to test facilities, equipment loans and software for three years. The ultimate goal would be bringing scientific experiments to the moon's surface.

Masten's XEUS lander for NASA's Lunar CATALYST project. (Image credit: NASA/Masten Space Systems, Inc.)

"NASA is making advances to push the boundaries of human exploration farther into the solar system, including to an asteroid and Mars, and continues to spur development in the commercial space sector," Jason Crusan, director of the advanced exploration systems division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., said in a statement.

"Robotic missions to the moon have revealed the existence of local resources, including oxygen and water, which may be highly valuable for exploration of the solar system," Crusan added. "The potential to use the lunar surface in partnership with our international and commercial partners may allow these resources to be characterized and used to enable future exploration and pioneering."

Astrobotic Technology’s Griffin lander concept for NASA's Lunar CATALYST project. (Image credit: Astrobotic Technology Inc.)

When the project was first announced in January, NASA said it expects Lunar CATALYST will let companies do commercial endeavors such as moon mining, while advancing science and technology. The agency also believes it could help prepare for deeper-space missions such as a voyage to Mars.

Both Astrobotic and Moon Express are competing for the $30 million Google Lunar X Prize awarded to a private team that can land and perform activities on the surface of the moon by Dec. 31, 2015.

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Elizabeth Howell
Elizabeth Howell
Staff Writer, Spaceflight

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace