NASA selects nuclear rover for Moon base
The six-wheeled PROMISE rover is to survey the Moon’s south pole from late 2028.
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NASA is deploying a rover to help prepare for a future Moon base. The US space agency is targeting a late-2028 launch for PROMISE and planning an 18-month mission.
PROMISE stands for Polar Rover for Observation, Mapping, and In-Situ Exploration. NASA announced that the six-wheeled robot is to travel to the Moon’s south pole to study the surface and subsurface, map possible resources and gather data for future landing sites and infrastructure.
The rover will be nuclear-powered, but NASA does not describe a nuclear reactor. PROMISE will use a multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator, a radioisotope generator that converts heat from radioactive decay into electricity. This should allow the rover to operate during long lunar nights and in permanently shadowed areas, where solar panels are of little use.
NASA is building PROMISE largely with spare parts and test models previously developed for the Mars rovers Curiosity and Perseverance. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California is managing the mission and combining existing electronics, structural components and mobility systems with additional parts. According to NASA, this approach could limit development time and costs, although the mission remains dependent on tests for the Moon’s specific conditions.
The rover will carry, among other things, a drill that is to retrieve regolith—the loose dust and rock on the lunar surface—from a depth of about one metre. Spectrometers will analyse the chemical composition, while cameras and sensors measure temperature and radiation. The rover must also demonstrate autonomous navigation and a radiation-resistant computer system.
The destination is the Moon’s south-polar region. According to NASA, PROMISE is to map possible resources there and gather data for future infrastructure. NASA therefore presents the mission as exploration and preparation, not as proof that a Moon base is already technically or economically viable.
Blue Origin is receiving a $94 million basic contract from NASA to deliver the rover with a Mark 1 lander. An option worth $140 million is available on top of that, depending on performance. According to NASA, the launch is scheduled for late 2028; that is a target, not a fixed launch date.
PROMISE is part of NASA’s broader Moon Base programme, in which commercial companies provide landers, transport and other robotic missions. The US schedule is also part of a wider international race for the Moon’s south pole: China is likewise working on a series of uncrewed and crewed lunar missions. In the coming years, technical tests, landings and the availability of launch systems will largely determine how credible the announced timetables prove to be.
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Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The core facts about the PROMISE rover, its instruments, power supply, timetable and contract with Blue Origin appear in NASA’s announcement and mission page. The international context is drawn from Space.com and has been framed as broader context.
- confirmed NASA wants to launch PROMISE to the Moon in late 2028 for an 18-month mission. — NASA gives late 2028 as the target and 18 months as the planned primary mission. source
- confirmed PROMISE will study the Moon’s south pole and collect data for future infrastructure. — This appears in NASA’s mission description and press release. source
- confirmed The rover uses a radioisotope generator, not a described nuclear reactor. — NASA specifies an MMRTG as the power source; the text makes this distinction explicit. source
- confirmed The rover is being built with existing hardware from Curiosity and Perseverance. — NASA describes the use of spare parts and test models from both Mars rover programmes. source
- confirmed PROMISE will have a drill for research to a depth of about one metre. — NASA mentions a drill reaching 3.3 feet, or about one metre. source
- confirmed Blue Origin is receiving $94 million with an option worth $140 million. — These amounts appear in NASA’s contract announcement. source
- confirmed China is working on broader lunar mission planning alongside NASA. — Space.com describes Chinese plans for uncrewed missions and a crewed landing before 2030; the source also notes uncertainties in the timetable. source
Editor's note
NASA’s mission announcement, technical data and contract amounts are clearly confirmed. The late-2028 launch is a target; the independent source was used mainly for context on the international lunar race.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
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