Independent newsroom

Sunday, November 8, 2026

The File

Every claim traces to a primary source. Uncertainty is labeled. Corrections are public.

Space · Sunday, November 8, 2026

NASA awards Moon cargo work and a nuclear rover

The File desk · Nov. 8, 2026, 6:41 a.m. ET

Confirmed2 primary sourcesAdded 6:41 a.m. ET, Nov. 8

Status

Confirmed as NASA announcements. The November 7, 2026 release says NASA selected eight companies for CLPS 2, a contract with a combined maximum value of $10 billion, raised the CLPS 1.0 value from $2.6 billion to $4.2 billion, and awarded Blue Origin a $94 million base contract to deliver the PROMISE rover. A same-day release opens astronaut applications through 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, December 3.
  • Confirmed
    The company list, the ceiling, the rover plan, and the Blue Origin figures are in the November 7 Moon Base release.
  • Confirmed
    The application deadline, the late-2027 selection, the 2024 call, and the count of 32 active astronauts are in the November 7 astronaut release.
NASA on Saturday, November 7, 2026, named eight companies that can compete to deliver cargo to the Moon, under a contract whose combined maximum is $10 billion, and said it will build a nuclear-powered rover called PROMISE.1
CLPS, Commercial Lunar Payload Services, is NASA's program for paying companies to land cargo on the Moon. The eight companies on the new CLPS 2 list are Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines, ispace-U.S., Lockheed Martin Space, Northrop Grumman Space Systems, SpaceX, and Voyager Technologies. The award is a 10-year, multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity master contract. A maximum value is a ceiling on later orders. It is not money already spent.1
NASA also raised the current CLPS 1.0 contract from $2.6 billion to $4.2 billion. That contract stays in place through November 2028, with five more years to finish deliveries through November 2033. The agency announced the awards at the MAX POWER expo at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.1
PROMISE, the Polar Rover for Observation, Mapping, and In-Situ Exploration, is a nuclear-powered rover the Jet Propulsion Laboratory will build from spare parts and test models of the Curiosity and Perseverance Mars rovers. It will drill to about 3 feet, or 1 meter, below the surface. NASA is targeting a launch in late 2028 and an 18-month mission. Blue Origin's delivery award is a $94 million base contract, plus an option worth an additional $140 million, using the company's Mark 1 lander.1
Why it matters (Estimate). Estimate. The $10 billion figure is permission to order lunar deliveries later, not a check NASA has written. Two dates are already on the page: applications close at 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, December 3, and PROMISE is aimed at a late-2028 launch.
The same day, NASA said U.S. citizens can apply to the astronaut corps until 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, December 3. It expects a final selection in late 2027. The last opening, in 2024, drew more than 8,000 applications, and 10 candidates were selected in 2025. The agency says 32 astronauts are active now.2
How we know

Notes

  1. 1.NASA release 26-095, "NASA Awards Moon Base Transportation, Technology, Science Projects," Nov 07, 2026, by Jessica Taveau. "NASA announced a suite of awards and mission updates on Saturday." Shared at the MAX POWER expo at Kennedy Space Center. Eight companies for CLPS 2: Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines, ispace-U.S., Lockheed Martin Space, Northrop Grumman Space Systems, SpaceX, Voyager Technologies. "10-year, multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity master contract with a combined maximum value of $10 billion." CLPS 1.0 raised "from $2.6 billion to $4.2 billion." Original contract remains through November 2028, with an additional five-year period to complete deliveries through November 2033. PROMISE is nuclear-powered. Jet Propulsion Laboratory will build it from spare flight components and engineering test models of Curiosity and Perseverance. Drill approximately 3 feet (1 meter). "targeting late 2028 to launch" and an 18-month mission. Blue Origin "$94 million base contract, with an option period worth an additional $140 million" on a Mark 1 lander. The release also names task orders to Arrow Science and Technology, Blue Origin, and Impulse Space. Retrieved 6:16 a.m. ET. https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-awards-moon-base-transportation-technology-science-projects/
  2. 2.NASA, "NASA Seeks Next Generation of Explorers to Join Astronaut Corps," Nov 07, 2026. "U.S. citizens interested in joining the astronaut corps have until 11:59 p.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 3." "NASA expects to make its final selection in late 2027." Last opened in 2024. "From more than 8,000 applications, 10 astronaut candidates were selected in 2025." "The agency has 32 astronauts active in the astronaut corps." Retrieved 6:16 a.m. ET. https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-seeks-next-generation-of-explorers-to-join-astronaut-corps/

What is still unknown or disputed

  • How much of the $10 billion ceiling NASA will actually order. The release does not say.
  • Whether the Blue Origin option will be exercised. It is described as an option.
  • Who will be selected as astronauts. The release gives a deadline and says selection is expected in late 2027.

Primary sources

Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.

  1. Source 1

    NASA Awards Moon Base Transportation, Technology, Science Projects

    NASA · November 7, 2026

    Eight companies on a CLPS 2 contract with a combined maximum of $10 billion. PROMISE rover. Blue Origin delivery contract of $94 million, plus a $140 million option.

    https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-awards-moon-base-transportation-technology-science-projects/

  2. Source 2

    NASA Seeks Next Generation of Explorers to Join Astronaut Corps

    NASA · November 7, 2026

    Applications from U.S. citizens are due 11:59 p.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 3. Selection expected in late 2027. Last call: more than 8,000 applications, 10 selected in 2025. 32 active astronauts.

    https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-seeks-next-generation-of-explorers-to-join-astronaut-corps/