NASA has awarded Firefly Aerospace a $179 million contract to send six scientific experiments to the Moon’s Gruithuisen Domes by 2028, as part of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. This mission focuses on exploring ancient lava flows and testing technologies for future human space exploration. The Gruithuisen Domes, believed to have been formed by silica-rich magma, provide a unique opportunity to study the Moon’s geological evolution. Firefly’s first lunar delivery is slated for mid-January 2025, landing near Mons Latreille, while its second mission includes multiple task orders including a lunar orbital delivery in 2026.
The 2028 mission will deploy instruments designed to investigate geological processes and lunar regolith, including a robotics arm for sample collection and various imaging technologies. Notable instruments include the Lunar Vulkan Imaging and Spectroscopy Explorer for studying rock origins, a flexible camera system named Heimdall for site imaging, and technologies to assess lunar surface conditions and solar power conversion. These endeavors are part of NASA’s broader Moon to Mars strategy, aiming to enhance our understanding of the Moon while supporting the burgeoning lunar economy and the role of American companies in space exploration.
