NASA is betting BIG on SpaceX for the future of lunar exploration, expanding its role across THREE major areas of Moon Base infrastructure: lunar cargo delivery, space transportation, and communications
And Starship has been selected for a major new mission in 2028 to deploy communications satellites around the Moon
Here's how SpaceX is becoming a major part of NASA's Moon Base ambitions:
1. LUNAR CARGO DELIVERY
NASA has selected SpaceX as one of eight companies under its new CLPS 2 framework, a 10-year program worth up to $10 BILLION across all providers
This positions SpaceX to compete for future missions delivering critical science equipment, technology, and infrastructure directly to the lunar surface
2. SPACE TRANSPORTATION
SpaceX's Falcon 9 is among the launch vehicles named for NASA's newly awarded lunar transportation missions
Falcon 9's proven launch capabilities will support missions involving spacecraft transportation, navigation testing, and infrastructure needed for NASA's expanding lunar operations
3. LUNAR COMMUNICATIONS
NASA has directly selected SpaceX for a major Starship mission in 2028
Starship will deploy communications satellites into cislunar space, helping establish the communications infrastructure needed to support astronauts, spacecraft, and future operations around the Moon
This is MUCH bigger than simply landing astronauts on the lunar surface
NASA is building toward a sustained human presence on the Moon, and that requires an entire transportation and infrastructure network
From launching spacecraft with Falcon 9 to competing for lunar cargo deliveries and deploying communications infrastructure with Starship, SpaceX is positioning itself across all THREE critical areas
And Starship is becoming an important part of NASA's plans for humanity's permanent presence beyond Earth
And Starship has been selected for a major new mission in 2028 to deploy communications satellites around the Moon
Here's how SpaceX is becoming a major part of NASA's Moon Base ambitions:
1. LUNAR CARGO DELIVERY
NASA has selected SpaceX as one of eight companies under its new CLPS 2 framework, a 10-year program worth up to $10 BILLION across all providers
This positions SpaceX to compete for future missions delivering critical science equipment, technology, and infrastructure directly to the lunar surface
2. SPACE TRANSPORTATION
SpaceX's Falcon 9 is among the launch vehicles named for NASA's newly awarded lunar transportation missions
Falcon 9's proven launch capabilities will support missions involving spacecraft transportation, navigation testing, and infrastructure needed for NASA's expanding lunar operations
3. LUNAR COMMUNICATIONS
NASA has directly selected SpaceX for a major Starship mission in 2028
Starship will deploy communications satellites into cislunar space, helping establish the communications infrastructure needed to support astronauts, spacecraft, and future operations around the Moon
This is MUCH bigger than simply landing astronauts on the lunar surface
NASA is building toward a sustained human presence on the Moon, and that requires an entire transportation and infrastructure network
From launching spacecraft with Falcon 9 to competing for lunar cargo deliveries and deploying communications infrastructure with Starship, SpaceX is positioning itself across all THREE critical areas
And Starship is becoming an important part of NASA's plans for humanity's permanent presence beyond Earth
