NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is the United States government agency responsible for space exploration, space technology, and aeronautics research. As a space agency, NASA leads both crewed and robotic missions, develops new space technologies, and conducts research in space science. NASA is known for its partnerships with organizations like ESA and its work on programs like the International Space Station (ISS), the Artemis Program, and the Space Launch System (SLS). Associated keywords include: space exploration, aeronautics, space technology, and scientific discovery.
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NASA’s March 2026 Ignition restructuring of Commercial LEO Destinations shifted the program from certifying full commercial station operators to a government-owned core module model.
The Voyager Technologies and Astrobotic Technology combination is intended to support contracts under NASA’s Artemis program and the Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative.
NASA awarded Lunar Outpost a $220 million task order to develop the Pegasus rover under Phase 1 High Achievability Mission task orders of the Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services contract.
NASA separately awarded Blue Origin $188 million for lunar lander services under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services framework.
Vast, Axiom Space, Starlab, and Orbital Reef are the four active Commercial LEO Destinations developers affected by NASA’s Ignition framework.
NASA plans to select its main industrial partners before June of this year.
NASA’s core module is initially docked to the International Space Station.
Executed Funded Space Act Agreements for Commercial LEO Destinations Phase 2 scope give suppliers a documented NASA obligation and a negotiating floor in renegotiations.
Under NASA’s new Commercial LEO Destinations architecture, NASA owns and operates a core module that is initially docked to the International Space Station.
Commercial firms in the restructured Commercial LEO Destinations program will build add-on modules that attach to NASA’s core module.
NASA currently targets the International Space Station for decommissioning in 2030.
NASA will use Astrobotic’s Griffin Mission One for its Moon Base II mission to begin building planned lunar base infrastructure.
Moon Base I is targeted for launch no earlier than fall 2026 and will use Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander to deliver NASA scientific instruments to the Shackleton Connecting Ridge.
Astrobotic Technology’s Griffin Mission One has been selected to fly NASA’s Moon Base II mission.
NASA restructured the Commercial LEO Destinations program in March 2026.
NASA announced updates to MoonFall, a mission targeting 2028 that will send four drones to make short hops across the lunar surface to survey potential Artemis landing sites.
NASA shifted Commercial LEO Destinations from certifying commercial station operators to owning and operating a core module.
Commercial LEO Destinations suppliers that only ունեն letters of intent, teaming agreement invitations, or verbal commitments have no binding NASA obligation.
NASA awarded Venturi Astrolab a $219 million task order to develop the Crewed Lunar Vehicle-1 under Phase 1 High Achievability Mission task orders of the Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services contract.
Letters of intent, teaming agreement invitations, and verbal commitments for Commercial LEO Destinations do not create a binding NASA obligation to suppliers.