NASA was reported to be evaluating bulk purchases of launch services for its lunar-base program on October 6, 2026. NASA Moon Base program manager Carlos García-Galán said the agency might announce an initial group soon. The proposal was still under consideration, not a completed purchase or award.
Why NASA is considering more launch options
The approach is intended to give NASA more flexibility for lunar cargo deliveries amid rising demand for launches and uncertainty about future Falcon 9 availability. A launch vehicle carries cargo toward the Moon; a commercial lander would then be used to deliver it to the lunar surface.
NASA could match different launch vehicles with commercial landers and potentially make spare capacity available to other interested organizations, including government agencies. These arrangements were described as possibilities, not settled plans.
Four or five rocket types could be considered
García-Galán described four or five types of rocket as a possibility. He did not name vehicles for the contemplated purchases. The range would give NASA options for matching launch services and landers to the program’s cargo needs.
Lunar cargo needs are projected to grow from 2029
NASA plans to use landers and rovers to scout lunar locations and resources through 2028. From 2029, the program is projected to need larger rockets to deliver up to 60 metric tons of equipment to the lunar surface for power systems, habitats and other infrastructure. That figure is a projected program-wide delivery need, not the payload capacity of a single rocket.
