NASA is moving quickly to build a long-term base on the moon, and many landers and rovers will be sent there in the next few years. The agency has given new contracts worth almost 600 million dollars to three companies, Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines, to deliver science equipment to the lunar surface in 2028. These missions will test new technology, study the moon’s south pole, and help NASA choose the best places for future construction. NASA plans to spend 20 billion dollars over seven years on this program, and it is working closely with private companies to stay on a tight schedule. NASA leaders also said they may send a test Mars rover, called Promise, to the moon to study resources and locations. Some missions may face delays, such as Blue Origin’s uncrewed landing after a recent rocket failure, but others could still launch this year. NASA will give monthly updates and will soon ask scientists and engineers to propose new experiments for future moon flights, including projects for energy, communication, and better ways to send data between Earth and the moon.