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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.
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.