NASA Awards Nearly $600 Million in Lunar Mission Contracts
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 30 2026
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Significant Contract Awards: NASA has awarded nearly $600 million for four lunar missions scheduled for 2028, with Astrobotic receiving $297.9 million, Firefly Aerospace $144.2 million, and Intuitive Machines $148.3 million, directly enhancing their capabilities in lunar transportation.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the contract announcement, Intuitive Machines shares rose 5.8%, Firefly Aerospace increased by 3.2%, and Voyager Technologies gained 2.3% due to its planned acquisition of Astrobotic, reflecting investor confidence in NASA's ongoing support for commercial lunar transportation.
- Diverse Scientific Instruments: Each mission will carry three scientific instruments, including SCALPSS for studying rocket exhaust effects on lunar dust, a Laser Retroreflector Array, and a Linear Energy Transfer Spectrometer, providing crucial data for future human operations and advancing lunar infrastructure development.
- Long-Term Strategic Planning: NASA's Moon Base program is expanding, evaluating the PROMISE rover based on Mars exploration technologies, and seeking proposals for additional lunar landers and communication systems, indicating its commitment to establishing a sustainable human and scientific presence on the Moon and facilitating future crewed missions to Mars.
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Analyst Views on LUNR
Wall Street analysts forecast LUNR stock price to fall
10 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
1 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 19.580
Low
9.50
Averages
17.74
High
25.00
Current: 19.580
Low
9.50
Averages
17.74
High
25.00
About LUNR
Intuitive Machines, Inc. is a space technology, infrastructure, and services company. It is a provider and supplier of space products and services that enable sustained robotic and human exploration to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Its services include delivery services, data transmission services, and infrastructure as a service. Its delivery services provide transportation and delivery of payloads, such as satellites, scientific instruments and cargo to various destinations in space, in addition to rideshare delivery and lunar surface access. Its data transmission services offerings include the collection, processing, and interpretation of space-based data, utilizing applications, such as command, control, communications, reconnaissance and prospecting. Its infrastructure as a service delivers space assets, performing tasks and making decisions without human intervention that are designed to perform essential functions, such as navigation, scientific data collection, and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Positive Market Reaction: Following the contract announcement, Intuitive Machines shares rose 5.8%, Firefly Aerospace increased by 3.2%, and Voyager Technologies gained 2.3% due to its planned acquisition of Astrobotic, reflecting investor confidence in NASA's ongoing support for commercial lunar transportation.
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- Long-Term Strategic Planning: NASA's Moon Base program is expanding, evaluating the PROMISE rover based on Mars exploration technologies, and seeking proposals for additional lunar landers and communication systems, indicating its commitment to establishing a sustainable human and scientific presence on the Moon and facilitating future crewed missions to Mars.
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- Project Goals: The funding will be used to develop and deploy lunar landers aimed at advancing scientific exploration and technology testing on the Moon's surface, further solidifying the U.S.'s leadership in space exploration.
- Commercial Collaboration: By partnering with these companies, NASA not only leverages their innovative technologies but also encourages private sector participation in the aerospace industry, thereby accelerating the growth of the space economy.
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- Positive Market Reaction: Following the contract announcement, Intuitive Machines shares rose 5.8%, Firefly Aerospace increased by 3.2%, and Voyager Technologies gained 2.3% due to its planned acquisition of Astrobotic, reflecting investor confidence in NASA's ongoing support for commercial lunar transportation.
- Diverse Scientific Instruments: Each mission will carry three scientific instruments, including SCALPSS for studying rocket exhaust effects on lunar dust, a Laser Retroreflector Array, and a Linear Energy Transfer Spectrometer, providing crucial data for future human operations and advancing lunar infrastructure development.
- Long-Term Strategic Planning: NASA's Moon Base program is expanding, evaluating the PROMISE rover based on Mars exploration technologies, and seeking proposals for additional lunar landers and communication systems, indicating its commitment to establishing a sustainable human and scientific presence on the Moon and facilitating future crewed missions to Mars.
See More
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- Application of Technological Innovation: The contract includes a $68.6 million base contract and a $79.7 million performance incentive, ensuring rapid delivery of proven landers, directly advancing the company's core mission to provide reliable lunar transport and operational services.
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See More
