Firefly Awarded $177 Million NASA Contract for Mission to the Moon’s South Pole

Rhea-AI Summary

Firefly Aerospace (NYSE:FLY) has secured a $176.7 million NASA contract for its fourth lunar mission under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The mission, scheduled for 2029, will utilize Firefly's Elytra orbital vehicle and Blue Ghost lunar lander to deliver five NASA payloads to the Moon's south pole.

The mission will deploy two rovers (MoonRanger and a Canadian Space Agency rover) and three scientific instruments to study lunar resources, radiation, and thermal conditions. The Elytra Dark transfer vehicle will provide communications relay and join Firefly's lunar imaging constellation, offering services for over five years after the mission.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Long timeline to mission execution (2029 launch date)
• Complex mission requiring multiple vehicle coordinations and deployments

Insights

Space Industry Analyst

Firefly secures $177M NASA contract, strengthening lunar market position with fourth Moon mission and expanding orbital infrastructure capabilities.

Firefly Aerospace has secured a $176.7 million NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contract, reinforcing its position as a key player in lunar exploration. This represents the company's fourth lunar mission and fifth CLPS award, highlighting NASA's continued confidence in Firefly's capabilities following its successful initial Blue Ghost mission.

The 2029 mission to the Moon's south pole will deploy Firefly's integrated space transportation system, featuring both the Elytra orbital vehicle and Blue Ghost lunar lander. This dual-spacecraft approach provides Firefly with a competitive advantage, as the Elytra vehicle will remain in lunar orbit as a communications relay while the lander conducts surface operations.

The scientific significance of this mission is substantial, focusing on resource evaluation at the lunar south pole – specifically hydrogen, water, and minerals – critical for future lunar exploration and potential commercialization. The payload package includes two rovers and three scientific instruments, demonstrating the Blue Ghost platform's capacity for complex mission profiles.

Beyond the immediate contract value, Firefly is strategically leveraging this mission to expand its Ocula lunar imaging service, adding a third Elytra Dark vehicle to their constellation. This demonstrates the company's forward-looking approach to building persistent lunar infrastructure with multiple revenue streams beyond just NASA contracts.

The invitation for additional government and commercial customers to join the mission suggests Firefly is pursuing a rideshare model to maximize the economic potential of each lunar mission, potentially improving long-term profitability beyond the base contract value.

Company’s fourth lunar mission and fifth NASA CLPS award utilizes Firefly’s Elytra orbital vehicle and Blue Ghost lunar lander to operate two rovers and three scientific instruments

CEDAR PARK, Texas, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Firefly Aerospace, a market leading space and defense technology company, was awarded a $176.7 million NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contract to deliver five NASA-sponsored payloads to the Moon’s south pole in 2029. The mission will utilize Firefly’s Elytra orbital vehicle and Blue Ghost lunar lander to enable payload operations that include evaluating the Moon’s south pole resources, such as hydrogen, water, and other minerals, and studying the radiation and thermal environment that could affect future astronauts and lunar infrastructure.

“Firefly is honored to support another NASA CLPS task order as a proven, reliable partner for robotic missions to the Moon,” said Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “Following our first Blue Ghost mission that made history just a few months ago, this bold Firefly team proved we have the right mix of grit, innovation, and dedication to not only stick the landing, but also complete all scientific objectives for our payload partners. We’ve set the bar high, and we aim to continue setting new records in our missions to come with our active production line of Blue Ghost landers.”

During Blue Ghost Mission 4 operations, Firefly’s Elytra Dark transfer vehicle will first deploy the Blue Ghost lander into lunar orbit and remain on orbit to provide a long-haul communications relay for the mission. Blue Ghost will then land in the Moon’s south pole region, deploy the rovers, and enable payloads operations with data, power, and communications services for more than 12 days on the lunar surface.

The NASA-sponsored payloads onboard Blue Ghost include two rovers – the MoonRanger rover and a Canadian Space Agency rover – as well as a Laser Ablation Ionization Mass Spectrometer (LIMS), a Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA), and the Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies (SCALPSS), which also flew on Blue Ghost Mission 1. These payloads will help uncover the composition and resources available at the Moon’s south pole, advance lunar navigation, evaluate the chemical composition of lunar regolith, and further study the effects of a lander's plume on the Moon’s surface during landings.

Following Blue Ghost Mission 4 operations, Elytra Dark will remain operational in lunar orbit for more than five years in support of Firefly’s Ocula lunar imaging service. The mission enables a third Elytra Dark in Firefly’s growing constellation to provide customers with faster revisit times for lunar mapping, mission planning, situational awareness, and mineral detection services. The first two Elytra Dark vehicles will launch as part of Blue Ghost Mission 2 to the far side of the Moon in 2026 and Blue Ghost Mission 3 to the Gruithuisen Domes in 2028.

“Firefly’s Elytra Dark spacecraft are great companions for Blue Ghost – they’re highly maneuverable vehicles built with the same flight-proven components and propulsion system that successfully landed Blue Ghost on the Moon,” said Chris Clark, Vice President of Spacecraft. “As our Elytra constellation continues to grow in lunar orbit, Firefly is in a unique position to provide lunar imaging services and a communications relay for missions anywhere on the Moon’s surface. And with extra payload capacity on both Elytra and Blue Ghost, we invite additional government and commercial customers to join our fourth mission that’s built upon the same reliable architecture and led by the same trusted team.”

Customers interested in joining Blue Ghost Mission 4 can find more information at https://fireflyspace.com/missions/blue-ghost-mission-4/ and those interested in Firefly’s Ocula lunar imaging services can find more details at https://fireflyspace.com/ocula/.

About Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables government and commercial customers to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for responsive space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with approximately 24-hour notice. Firefly is also the only company to achieve a fully successful landing on the Moon. Established in 2017, Firefly’s engineering, manufacturing, and test facilities are co-located in central Texas to enable rapid innovation. The company’s small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles are built with common flight-proven technologies to enable speed, reliability, and cost efficiencies for each mission from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. For more information, visit www.fireflyspace.com.

Media Contact
press@fireflyspace.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: 

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FAQ

What is the value of Firefly Aerospace's new NASA contract in 2025?

Firefly Aerospace (NYSE:FLY) was awarded a $176.7 million NASA contract to deliver five payloads to the Moon's south pole in 2029.

What payloads will Firefly's Blue Ghost Mission 4 deliver to the Moon?

The mission will deliver five NASA-sponsored payloads: the MoonRanger rover, a Canadian Space Agency rover, a Laser Ablation Ionization Mass Spectrometer (LIMS), a Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA), and the Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies (SCALPSS).

How long will Firefly's Elytra Dark vehicle operate in lunar orbit?

The Elytra Dark vehicle will remain operational in lunar orbit for more than five years, providing lunar imaging services through Firefly's Ocula lunar imaging service.

What is the purpose of Firefly's lunar mission to the Moon's south pole?

The mission will evaluate lunar south pole resources (hydrogen, water, minerals), study radiation and thermal conditions affecting future astronauts, and provide lunar navigation and surface composition data.

When is Firefly's Blue Ghost Mission 4 scheduled to launch?

Firefly's Blue Ghost Mission 4 is scheduled to launch in 2029, representing the company's fourth lunar mission under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.