NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services

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The NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program is "the first major step to return astronauts to the Moon under Space Policy Directive-1". [1]. Under this program, NASA will purchase delivery services to the Lunar surface from commercial companies for their scientific and technology demonstration payloads for the Artemis project. "These companies will bid on delivering science and technology payloads for NASA, including payload integration and operations, launching from Earth and landing on the surface of the Moon." [1]

On May 31, 2019 NASA awarded three American companies (out of 9 candidates) with surface task orders. The three companies are Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and Orbit Beyond. These early missions will test the technologies and capabilities needed to design manned landers. "NASA will look at a number of factors including technical, price, and schedule. The agency may make one or more awards per task order." [1].


CLPS specifics

  • "CLPS contracts are indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts with a cumulative maximum contract value of $2.6 billion during the next 10 years." [1]
  • "The first lunar delivery is targeted to launch September 2020." [1]
  • "Additional surface task orders are expected at a later date." [1]
  • "Future on-ramp opportunities for new vendors will be announced in 2020." [1]


CLPS Commercial Providers [1]

  • Astrobotic Technology (Awarded 2019 contract)
    • Based in Pittsburgh, PA.
    • "Awarded $79.5 million and has proposed to fly as many as 14 payloads to Lacus Mortis, a large crater on the near side of the Moon, by July 2021." [2]
  • Deep Space Systems
  • Draper
  • Firefly Aerospace
  • Intuitive Machines (Awarded 2019 contract)
    • Based in Houston, TX.
    • "Awarded $77 million. The company has proposed to fly as many as five payloads to Oceanus Procellarum, a scientifically intriguing dark spot on the Moon, by July 2021." [2]
  • Lockheed Martin Space
  • Masten Space Systems
  • Moon Express
  • Orbit Beyond (Awarded 2019 contract)
    • Based in Edison, NJ
    • "Awarded $97 million and has proposed to fly as many as four payloads to Mare Imbrium, a lava plain in one of the Moon’s craters, by September 2020." [2]


Selected CLPS payloads (2019)[3]

  • Linear Energy Transfer Spectrometer (used to measure the lunar surface radiation environment)
  • Near-Infrared Volatile Spectrometer System (image spectrometer used to measure surface composition)
  • Neutron Spectrometer System (neutron spectrometer used to measure hydrogen abundance)
  • Advanced Neutron Measurements (neutron spectrometer used to measure surface composition)
  • Ion-Trap Mass Spectrometer for Lunar Surface Volatiles (ion-trap mass spectrometer used to measure volatile contents in the surface and lunar exosphere)
  • A magnetometer used to measure the lunar surface magnetic field.
  • Low-frequency Radio Observations from the Near Side Lunar Surface (radio science instrument used to measure the photoelectron sheath density near the surface)
  • Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies (used to image the interaction between the lander engine plume as it hits the lunar surface)
  • Surface and Exosphere Alterations by Landers (used to monitor how the landing affects the lunar exosphere)
  • Navigation Doppler Lidar for Precise Velocity and Range Sensing (used to make precise velocity and ranging measurements during the descent)
  • Solar Cell Demonstration Platform for Enabling Long-Term Lunar Surface Power (used to demonstrate advanced solar arrays for longer mission duration)
  • Lunar Node 1 Navigation Demonstrator (used to demonstrate a navigational beacon to assist with geolocation for lunar orbiting spacecraft and landers)


Contacts [1]

  • Project Contacts
    • Steve Clarke - Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration, NASA Science Mission Directorate (steven.w.clarke@nasa.gov)
    • Christopher Culbert - Program Manager, NASA Johnson (christopher.j.culbert@nasa.gov)
    • Dominic Golemi - Contracting Officer, NASA Johnson (dominic.j.golemi@nasa.gov)
  • Media Contacts
    • Cheryl Warner - NASA Headquarters (202) 358-2975 (cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov)
    • Jenny Knotts - Johnson Space Center (281) 792-7671 (norma.j.knotts@nasa.gov)


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Commercial Lunar Payload Services. NASA. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Selects Experiments for Possible Lunar Flights in 2019. NASA. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  3. ↑ Selects Experiments for Possible Lunar Flights in 2019. NASA. Retrieved June 22, 2019.


Other resources

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