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Bloomberg • Loren Grush

NASA awards Moon Base contracts to Blue Origin, Firefly and other CLPS-style firms for phased South Pole surface buildup

NASA selected Blue Origin and Firefly Aerospace—along with other commercial providers—to deliver robotic landers, rovers and even drones as part of a phased, iterative Moon Base strategy at the lunar south pole. Blue Origin’s first lunar flight is targeted for fall 2026, while “Moon Base 2” work goes to Astrobotic.

2026-05-26T12:54:36.648420-07:00

European Spaceflight

Italy’s MPH lunar-habitat module clears NASA system requirements review, enabling Thales Alenia Space to move toward a 2027 Prel

2026-05-26T07:56:44.080661-07:00

The Hill

NASA to test nuclear technology for faster crewed Mars trip times by 2028

2026-05-24T08:15:46.942503-07:00

NASA Spaceflight

Expedition 74 activity on ISS: two vehicle arrivals, one departure, orbital reboost, and ongoing science/maintenance through Apr

2026-05-24T12:11:27.634530-07:00

News Timeline

Bloomberg

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NASA awards Moon Base contracts to Blue Origin, Firefly and other CLPS-style firms for phased South Pole surface buildup NASA selected Blue Origin and Firefly Aerospace—along with other commercial providers—to deliver robotic landers, rovers and even drones as part of a phased, iterative Moon Base strategy at the lunar south pole. Blue Origin’s first lunar flight is targeted for fall 2026, while “Moon Base 2” work goes to Astrobotic.

2026-05-26T12:54:36.648420-07:00

NASA awards Moon Base contracts to Blue Origin, Firefly and other CLPS-style firms for phased South Pole surface buildup

European Spaceflight

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Italy’s MPH lunar-habitat module clears NASA system requirements review, enabling Thales Alenia Space to move toward a 2027 Prel Italy’s Multi-Purpose Habitation (MPH) module has cleared a NASA System Requirements Review, allowing the ASI-led team and Thales Alenia Space to begin preparing for a Preliminary Design Review in 2027. The milestone keeps the European lunar-habitat work on track for upcoming Artemis-era surface systems integration.

2026-05-26T07:56:44.080661-07:00

Italy’s MPH lunar-habitat module clears NASA system requirements review, enabling Thales Alenia Space to move toward a 2027 Prel

NASA Spaceflight

Expedition 74 activity on ISS: two vehicle arrivals, one departure, orbital reboost, and ongoing science/maintenance through Apr Expedition 74 continued a high-tempo month aboard the International Space Station, overseeing two vehicle arrivals, a departure, and an orbital reboost. The crew also completed multiple technology demonstrations, science experiments, and routine Station maintenance, reinforcing the cadence of in-orbit operations.

2026-05-24T12:11:27.634530-07:00

Expedition 74 activity on ISS: two vehicle arrivals, one departure, orbital reboost, and ongoing science/maintenance through Apr

The Hill

NASA to test nuclear technology for faster crewed Mars trip times by 2028 NASA is planning a nuclear-technology demonstration in 2028 aimed at reducing Mars transit times. The effort is positioned as a key enabler for faster deep-space journeys, aligning near-term propulsion risk reduction with longer-range mission timelines.

2026-05-24T08:15:46.942503-07:00

NASA to test nuclear technology for faster crewed Mars trip times by 2028

SpaceNews.com

NASA plans to hedge its Commercial Crew Program by adding missions to SpaceX as Boeing spacecraft certification remains uncertai NASA intends to add missions to SpaceX’s Commercial Crew contract, explicitly protecting the program against a scenario in which Boeing’s spacecraft is never certified. The move underscores NASA’s need for schedule assurance as certification outcomes drive downstream crew-transport planning.

2026-05-24T01:11:32.294323-07:00

NASA plans to hedge its Commercial Crew Program by adding missions to SpaceX as Boeing spacecraft certification remains uncertai

NASA

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NASA to Compete Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Management Contract Under Broader Agency Realignment NASA said it will compete the next contract to manage and operate its federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, positioning JPL’s oversight for a potential reset within a wider NASA restructuring. The move is framed as strengthening accountability and value for taxpayers.

2026-05-22T08:05:08.321587-07:00

NASA to Compete Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Management Contract Under Broader Agency Realignment

Ars Technica

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NASA announces agencywide realignment under Administrator Jared Isaacman to sharpen mission delivery NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced a major reorganization aimed at increasing mission focus, streamlining the agency, and accelerating delivery of National Space Policy-aligned priorities. The workforce message is framed as a management blueprint, signaling an organizational shift toward higher-priority objectives.

2026-05-22T07:39:18.739239-07:00

NASA announces agencywide realignment under Administrator Jared Isaacman to sharpen mission delivery

Space.com

NASA to brief May 26 on updated Artemis Moon-base plan NASA will provide a live update on Tuesday afternoon, May 26, on its plans to build a Moon base as part of Artemis. The briefing is expected to clarify how the agency’s latest architecture and sequencing translate into an actionable surface-infrastructure approach.

2026-05-22T06:10:46.675064-07:00

NASA to brief May 26 on updated Artemis Moon-base plan

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NASA News

NASA awards Moon Base contracts to Blue Origin, Firefly and other CLPS-style firms for phased South Pole surface buildup

Italy’s MPH lunar-habitat module clears NASA system requirements review, enabling Thales Alenia Space to move toward a 2027 Prel

NASA to test nuclear technology for faster crewed Mars trip times by 2028

Expedition 74 activity on ISS: two vehicle arrivals, one departure, orbital reboost, and ongoing science/maintenance through Apr

News Timeline