Lunar Landers and the Moon Economy: CLPS, ispace, Firefly — 2026-10-24

Top developments

NASA Confirms 2028 Crewed Moon Landing Target

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that the agency is exploring ways to keep the Artemis III mission on target for a crewed lunar landing in 2028 without compromising safety. This update follows a series of press briefings where NASA detailed the "Apollo playbook" approach to accelerate lander development for both SpaceX Starship and Blue Origin Blue Moon. The agency emphasized that adjustments to the program improve the shot at a 2028 landing, with decisions on the primary lander provider pending rigorous testing outcomes.

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SpaceX and Blue Origin Lander Timelines Revealed

NASA has outlined specific development milestones for SpaceX and Blue Origin, targeting uncrewed landings in 2027 followed by crewed missions in early 2028. SpaceX’s Starship HLS and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon MK1 are on track for critical tests, with NASA maintaining an open competition until testing demonstrates a clear winner. The timeline includes a potential Artemis IV mission in 2028, depending on the readiness of the selected lander systems.

ispace Partners with ALTEC for Lunar Rover Testing

Japanese lunar lander developer ispace announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Italian space company ALTEC to explore collaboration on lunar rover testing and operational training. The partnership aims to utilize ALTEC’s facilities for simulating lunar environments to test ispace’s rover technologies, enhancing the company’s capabilities for future missions. This move strengthens ispace’s international footprint as it prepares for its upcoming H3 rocket launch missions.

CLPS Program Status: Griffin-1 Next in Line

The Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program continues to advance, with no commercial landings achieved in 2026 so far. The next scheduled mission is Astrobotic’s Griffin-1, with a launch date no earlier than November 2026. Intuitive Machines’ IM-3 and Blue Ghost 2 are scheduled for the first half of 2027, indicating a shift in the immediate CLPS delivery schedule.

Local view

Japanese Media Covers ispace’s New Partnerships

Japanese tech outlet Sorae reported on ispace’s new agreement with Italy’s ALTEC, highlighting the strategic importance of international collaboration for the company’s lunar rover development. The coverage notes that ispace is leveraging European capabilities to refine its technology ahead of its planned 2028 mission using the H3 rocket, reinforcing Japan’s growing private lunar sector.

Context & numbers

Lander Development Costs and Timelines

Recent analyses compare the financial scales of the two main NASA lander partners, with SpaceX’s Starship HLS contract valued at approximately $2.9 billion and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon MK1 at $3.4 billion. NASA’s CLPS program has awarded task orders exceeding $1.4 billion as of May 2026, with an annual run-rate of $250–400 million for science payload deliveries.

On the radar

• Griffin-1 Launch Window: Astrobotic’s Griffin-1 mission is currently targeting a launch no earlier than November 2026, marking the next critical CLPS delivery attempt.
• Artemis III Testing: NASA will continue to evaluate SpaceX and Blue Origin lander performance through 2027, with a final decision on the primary lander provider expected before the crewed 2028 mission.