CEDAR PARK, TX, May 27, 2026 – Firefly Aerospace received a $75 million subcontract from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to deliver four drones to the Moon’s south pole for the MoonFall mission. Targeted to launch no earlier than 2028, the mission will use Firefly’s Elytra spacecraft to deploy the drones above the lunar surface for terrain surveys, resource mapping and future Artemis landing-site work.
“NASA’s MoonFall is an incredible breakthrough mission well aligned with the bold innovation and successful execution that Firefly is known for,” said Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “This subcontract underscores our commitment to executing challenging missions that push the boundaries of lunar exploration. Built upon the same proven systems that landed Blue Ghost on the Moon, our Elytra spacecraft are equipped to deploy critical high-mass payloads across cislunar space.”
MoonFall is part of the first phase of NASA’s Moon Base, a long-term lunar exploration and infrastructure initiative focused on the lunar south pole. JPL is building the drones and managing the mission for NASA, while NASA will source the launch vehicle.
After launch, Elytra will carry the drones on a 45-day transit to the Moon and enter lunar orbit. The spacecraft will then deorbit and perform a braking maneuver before deploying the drones about 50 km above the Moon’s south pole.
The drones will land and operate for one lunar day, or up to 14 Earth days. They will survey terrain, including permanently shadowed regions, using high-definition optical cameras and instruments. Based on NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, the drones will use multiple propulsive hops to reach difficult areas and map safe landing sites and resources, including water ice. After each drone’s final flight, its survive-the-night payload will continue operating for several months.
“As NASA accelerates its Moon Base initiatives, Firefly is rapidly scaling spacecraft production to support these missions and subsequent Blue Ghost lunar landings,” said Ray Allensworth, vice president of Spacecraft at Firefly aerospace. “This is a transformational era for our industry, and we’re excited to add this innovative mission to our growing manifest.”
The subcontract adds to Firefly’s lunar spacecraft work, including three other Moon missions under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. Firefly recently completed critical test milestones for Blue Ghost Mission 2 and continues work on Blue Ghost Missions 3 and 4. The company is also expanding its cleanroom to support an assembly line for lunar landers and spacecraft. For MoonFall, Firefly’s Elytra Dark configuration will use systems from Blue Ghost Mission 1, including core avionics, carbon composite structures and Spectre engines, to deliver 1,000 kg of drones with high delta-V capability.
Source: Firefly Aerospace
About Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace, headquartered in Cedar Park, TX, develops launch vehicles, lunar landers, and in-space transport systems for commercial and government clients in the aerospace and defense sectors. Founded in 2017, the company provides small- and medium-lift rockets, lunar lander missions, and satellite deployment support for orbital and deep-space operations. Its customers include government space agencies, defense organizations, and commercial satellite operators.