NASA Schedules PROMISE Rover Mission for Late 2028
NASA officials announced Saturday that the agency will fly the PROMISE rover to the moon aboard a Blue Origin lander in late 2028, Scientific American reported. The primary mission will last 18 months and serve as a scout for future crewed operations near the lunar south pole.
NASA chief Jared Isaacman stated at the Saturday event that infrastructure must wait on the moon to greet human crews upon arrival. “Every piece of equipment we learn to operate there brings that enduring presence a little bit closer to reality,” Isaacman said.
Agency outlines lander task orders and infrastructure awards
Moon Base Program manager Carlos García-Galán outlined a broader campaign strategy involving lunar landers, rovers, and scientific instruments. The agency expects to complete 22 task orders of landers through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program between 2019 and the end of this year. An additional six task orders have been awarded under the Venture Class Acquisition and Dedicated Rideshare Land Services initiative.
These new awards cover an orbital transfer vehicle and communications satellites by Intuitive Machines to establish digital and navigational infrastructure. NASA also plans to deploy Blue Origin New Glenn rockets to deliver “MoonFall” drones designed to hop across the lunar south pole.
Nicky Fox, NASA’s associate administrator for science, emphasized the quality of the incoming payloads. The PROMISE rover, modeled after the Mars rovers Perseverance and Curiosity, carries a drill and other instruments to study lunar regolith and radiation.
Timeline depends on upcoming Artemis flights
The agency’s timeline for returning humans to the lunar surface depends on a sequence of upcoming Artemis flights. Following the Artemis II crewed flyaround earlier this year, Artemis III is slated for early 2027 to test two human landers: Blue Origin’s Blue Moon and a version of SpaceX’s Starship.
The NASA Office of Inspector General previously flagged both spacecraft as unproven for the job. Artemis IV is scheduled for 2028 as the first mission to return humans to the lunar surface in more than fifty years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What instruments will the PROMISE rover carry to the lunar surface?
The rover will carry a drill and instruments designed to study lunar regolith and radiation near the lunar south pole.
Which company’s lander will deliver the PROMISE rover in 2028?
A Blue Origin lander will deliver the rover to the moon for its 18-month primary mission.
How many CLPS lander task orders are scheduled through the end of this year?
NASA will have 22 task orders of landers sent to the moon through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.
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