NASA Looks Beyond SpaceX for Moon Missions

• NASA is preparing to secure multiple rocket launch options for its Moon Base programme.

• Blue Origin’s New Glenn and ULA’s Vulcan could help expand NASA’s launch choices.

• The agency is building a commercial supply chain to support sustained lunar operations.

NASA is looking beyond a single rocket provider as it prepares for an ambitious campaign of lunar missions. Growing demand for launch capacity is pushing the agency to explore a wider range of commercial launch options.

According to Bloomberg, NASA is preparing a major procurement of rocket launches to support its roughly $30 billion effort to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon. The strategy comes as the space industry faces increasing demand for launch services and concerns over future availability.

Rather than relying on one launch system, NASA is considering securing a variety of rockets capable of supporting the delivery of cargo and equipment to the lunar surface. This approach would give the agency greater flexibility as it builds the infrastructure needed for sustained operations on the Moon.

The move comes as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 remains one of the most heavily used launch vehicles in the commercial market. Bloomberg reported that SpaceX has begun turning down some requests from satellite operators seeking dedicated Falcon 9 launches beyond 2028, adding pressure on customers to secure alternative launch capacity.

NASA already has other commercial options available.

Blue Origin’s New Glenn was recently added to NASA’s Launch Services II contract, making the rocket available for future agency missions. The contract covers launch services through an ordering period extending to 2030 and performance through 2032.

NASA has also been working directly with Blue Origin to advance New Glenn's development. In July, the agency announced an agreement allowing the company to conduct second-stage hot-fire testing at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi as part of preparations for future Artemis-related missions.

United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan is another major U.S. launch vehicle that could provide NASA with additional capacity. Together with New Glenn and other commercial systems, it gives the agency alternatives as it seeks to expand its launch options.

NASA’s diversification strategy is closely linked to its evolving Moon Base programme.

The agency is already working with several commercial companies to deliver landers, scientific instruments and infrastructure to the lunar surface. NASA says commercial partners including Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines and Voyager Lunar Systems are developing landers intended to support sustained operations near the Moon’s South Pole.

The agency has also awarded nearly $600 million for four additional lunar missions scheduled for late 2028. Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace and Intuitive Machines are expected to deliver NASA science and technology payloads to the lunar surface.

These missions form part of NASA’s effort to establish the infrastructure required before astronauts conduct increasingly complex operations on the Moon.

NASA has described its Moon Base initiative as a long-term programme aimed at enabling a sustained human presence and expanding scientific and commercial activity on the lunar surface. The agency plans to use commercial landers and other private-sector systems to gradually build that capability.

The changing role of commercial companies is also visible in the Artemis programme. SpaceX and Blue Origin are developing the lunar landers that will play key roles in upcoming Artemis missions. Reuters reported that Artemis III is currently targeted for a potential June 2027 launch and is expected to serve as a rehearsal involving crewed docking demonstrations in Earth orbit, while a subsequent Artemis mission is planned to attempt a lunar landing.

For NASA, expanding its launch options is therefore about more than securing individual rocket flights. The agency is attempting to create a reliable and diversified transportation network capable of supporting repeated deliveries to the Moon.

The strategy could also reduce the risks associated with delays or limited availability from any single provider. With lunar missions expected to increase in frequency, NASA is seeking enough launch capacity to move equipment, scientific payloads and infrastructure ahead of future human operations.

The broader objective extends beyond the Moon. NASA views sustained lunar operations as a foundation for developing technologies and experience that could eventually support crewed missions to Mars.

As the agency moves toward a permanent lunar presence, competition among commercial rocket providers is becoming an increasingly important part of America's broader space exploration strategy.