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A Firefly Aerospace lunar landing mission scheduled for launch in 2028 will carry a Zeno Power radioisotope heater unit using Americium-241 to keep payload systems warm during the lunar night. The experiment aims to demonstrate technology that could support longer missions and a future lunar base.
The Defense Innovation Unit and the U.S. Space Development Agency selected D-Orbit, Firefly Aerospace, and Katalyst Space to study a commercial service for capturing aging, unprepared-for-servicing satellites and removing them from orbit. The agencies will assess technical maturity, schedule, and cost before deciding on an in-orbit demonstration.
NASA intends to award three new task orders under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program before the end of the year, including two landing missions and an orbital lunar-survey mission that could pave the way for replacing the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility is preparing for a major increase in launch frequency, with the number expected to rise from 17 operations in 2025 to 44 in 2030. The increase is prompting companies and local officials to call for improvements to the site’s infrastructure and the surrounding area, from roads and power to housing and services.