NASA

NASA recorded $23.4 billion in net outlays in fiscal 2026, about 5% below the prior year and the third consecutive annual decline, according to U.S. Treasury data. The broad spending measure offers budget-planning context for contractors but does not indicate that a specific program or contract has changed or that a new procurement is available.

NASA selected Voyager Technologies for the Commercial Lunar Payload Services 2 (CLPS 2) multiple-award IDIQ pool, making the company eligible to compete for lunar mission task orders. The vehicle has a $10 billion base ceiling through 2036, with an option to extend through 2041 and increase the ceiling to $15 billion; selection does not guarantee task orders or revenue.

A brief, unverified report says NASA has announced a contract valued at $10 billion for a lunar cargo lander supporting plans for a long-term Moon base. The signal omits the awardee, contract terms, and procurement details, so contractors should confirm the announcement through NASA’s official sources before making pursuit decisions.

NASA plans to test Rocket Lab Robotics’ autonomous arm in low Earth orbit during its Fly Foundational Robots demonstration, scheduled for late 2027. The mission will assess spacecraft-exterior movement and component installation, offering relevant vendors insight into future in-space servicing needs, but no follow-on procurement has been confirmed.

NASA plans for Blue Origin to deliver the PROMISE rover to the lunar surface in late 2028. The announcement identifies the delivery provider and target timeframe, but provides no contract value, solicitation details, technical requirements, or procurement contact information.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory selected Intuitive Machines on November 3, 2026, to provide the spacecraft platform and system-level integration for the FALCON-RADAR Earth science mission. The award value and contract number were not disclosed; the selection is the company’s third NASA Earth science award in six months, with launch planned no earlier than 2029.

NASA awarded Voyager Technologies a five-year, $35 million continuation contract to manage the HUNCH program, which engages high school students in designing and fabricating hardware for NASA. The award confirms Voyager’s incumbent role; the announcement identifies no new solicitation, contract number, or procurement contact.

NASA is recompeting the contract to manage and operate the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, ending Caltech’s sole-source arrangement that dates to 1958. With an annual value exceeding $2 billion and proposals due in Q3 2027, prospective bidders have time to develop operating and transition plans ahead of a planned Q1 2028 award.

NASA Goddard’s October 29 RFI seeks commercial approaches to raise Hubble’s orbit, service the telescope without harm, or guide its controlled disposal, with responses due November 30, 2026. The request is for market research—not a funded solicitation—and asks industry to inform potential requirements for a mission that NASA anticipates would need to occur by 2032.

KBR reported Q3 2026 revenue of about $2.03 billion, up 5% year over year, and adjusted EBITDA of approximately $268 million. NASA in-sourcing weighed on Mission Tech revenue and book-to-bill even as segment profitability improved; the results indicate potential contractor demand exposure, not a new solicitation or specific award.

SpaceX reportedly plans to end Crew Dragon operations by 2030 and focus on Starship. NASA’s contract called for six missions, while SpaceX had flown 13 missions to the International Space Station by September; the figures do not establish how the additional flights were authorized or funded. No successor procurement or Starship award is identified.

NASA Goddard has issued an RFI seeking industry concepts to raise Hubble’s orbit, service the telescope, or conduct a controlled reentry. NASA says launch must occur by 2032 and expects a follow-on RFP, creating a potential future opportunity for aerospace and space-service firms.

NASA awarded Modulate Space Corporation an approximately $38 million firm-fixed-price contract to develop a standards-based lunar communications system combining 5G and Wi-Fi 6. The award funds lab and lunar-surface demonstrations through 2028, not an operational Moon network, signaling development-phase opportunities for communications contractors.

NASA plans a 2027, 14-day Artemis III mission in low Earth orbit to test crewed rendezvous, docking, habitation, and operational procedures with Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 2 and SpaceX’s Starship human-landing-system test articles. The integration milestone is intended to reduce risk ahead of planned lunar operations in 2028; NASA announced no new solicitation, contract value, or procurement contact.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says the agency remains on track to return astronauts to the lunar surface, even as hardware readiness raises concerns. NASA has said Artemis III was three months behind schedule but identified opportunities to recover time; the update provides program context, not a new contract action or solicitation.

NASA awarded Momentus Inc. a task order to develop the mission formulation for its Fly Foundational Robots (FFR) Resupply mission, focused on technologies for future in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing. Momentus is one of two participants; NASA plans to select one for implementation and flight, creating a later competitive milestone. The task order value and contract number were not disclosed.

NASA recorded 1,231 of 2,020 federal engineering and architecture new-hire personnel actions in August 2026, or 60.9% of the total, according to U.S. Office of Personnel Management data. The surge is relevant to contractor workforce and capture planning, but the data do not establish contractor conversions, net NASA workforce growth, or changes to contract demand.

Red One Medical has been awarded a position on NASA's SEWP VI Category C contract, expanding its federal contracting capabilities for IT services. This long-term contract, effective from November 1, 2026, opens opportunities for enhanced service delivery across various government agencies.

NASA has awarded $1.4 billion in enterprise logistics blanket purchase agreements to 16 companies, effective until 2031. This initiative will streamline logistics operations, including asset management and compliance, impacting future contracts and procurement strategies for GovCon firms.

NASA and Boeing are preparing for an uncrewed Starliner-1 flight to test upgrades by January 2027. Successful results will pave the way for crewed missions, projected for mid-2028, highlighting ongoing needs for commercial crew and launch capacities.

NASA’s Dexterous Robotics Team is creating advanced robotic technologies for space exploration missions, including lunar and Mars operations. This initiative presents significant procurement opportunities for contractors specialized in robotics, software, and simulations, aligning with NASA’s goals of safer human-robot interactions during missions.

NASA has awarded Infleqtion a $20 million follow-on contract to develop the Quantum Gravity Gradiometer Pathfinder mission. This initiative positions NASA at the forefront of quantum sensing technologies, presenting new procurement opportunities in advanced engineering and sensor development for contractors.

NASA's new agreement with Blue Origin supports testing for the New Glenn rocket, benefiting its Artemis lunar program. This collaboration indicates ongoing investment in commercial spaceflight and may create procurement opportunities in aerospace sectors.

NASA has awarded Chugach Intelligence Solutions LLC a five-year, $158 million hybrid contract for facilities support at Ames Research Center. The contract aims to maintain critical infrastructure necessary for ongoing NASA missions and tenant partners, indicating a strong focus on operational continuity and efficient service delivery.

NASA has successfully launched the R5-S9 CubeSat to test innovative autonomous technologies in orbit. The project emphasizes the use of rapid, low-cost development through commercial partnerships, signaling new procurement opportunities for vendors in the aerospace sector.

NASA and JAXA are set to launch the MACS mission to improve monitoring of millimeter-sized space debris. This partnership opens procurement opportunities in debris detection technologies and further enhances spacecraft safety.

Keeper Technology has been awarded a prime position on NASA's SEWP VI contract, a significant procurement vehicle with a potential value of **$60 billion** over ten years. This contract will enhance federal agencies' access to vital IT hardware, software, and solutions, expanding opportunities for contractors in the federal IT marketplace.

NASA has contracted SpaceX for the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a significant step in deep space scientific missions. This partnership highlights the growing reliance on commercial launch providers and the emerging opportunities in the aerospace contracting field.

NASA's draft RFP for its Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations program calls for industry feedback by July 27, 2026. The initiative marks a fundamental shift toward a tenant model, inviting private companies to provide services rather than facilitating government-owned and operated platforms.

NASA has awarded Firefly Aerospace a **$13 million** contract to develop a heat-shielding aeroshell for the 2028 SkyFall Mars helicopter mission. This partnership underscores the growing procurement landscape around planetary exploration technologies, indicating significant opportunities for aerospace contractors in the near future.

NASA will host a virtual event on June 30 to discuss progress on the Moon Base mission. This briefing will cover recent lunar lander contract awards and open new procurement opportunities for contractors involved in lunar exploration and support for future Mars missions.

NASA is gearing up for the Space Reactor-1 Freedom mission, the first-ever fission-powered spacecraft for interplanetary travel. This initiative, emphasizing collaboration with the Department of Energy, indicates increasing procurement opportunities for nuclear propulsion and aerospace technology specialists ahead of a late 2028 launch.

Axiom Space has officially relocated its headquarters to Texas, enhancing the state's role in aerospace. This strategic move is set to create increased procurement opportunities in commercial space exploration and aerospace technologies, particularly within the proximity of NASA's Johnson Space Center.

NASA is advancing the DAPHNE mission to improve space weather prediction through a $250 million budget. This initiative opens procurement opportunities for contractors in atmospheric research and satellite technologies.

NASA's Polylingual Experimental Terminal (PExT) successfully demonstrated switching between satellite networks, emphasizing the importance of interoperability in future missions. This development opens procurement opportunities for contractors involved in satellite communications and ground station integration as agencies focus on versatile solutions.

NASA is pivoting to private space stations as it retires the International Space Station by 2030. This strategic decision opens significant contracting opportunities for the aerospace sector, particularly for firms like Blue Origin and Apex.

Starfighters Space and Mu-g Technologies have joined forces to respond to NASA's RFI for Parabolic Flight Services. This partnership aims to enhance commercial microgravity flight capabilities, thereby expanding procurement opportunities for aerospace research and flight testing.

NASA has added six post-certification missions to its commercial crew contract with SpaceX, enhancing crew transportation to the ISS through 2030. This extension underscores NASA's reliance on SpaceX due to Boeing's ongoing certification challenges with the CST-100 Starliner.

NASA has drafted a solicitation for the Landsat 10 spacecraft, intended for a 2031 launch. This contract focuses on comprehensive spacecraft development, prompting key stakeholders to prepare for proposal submissions and align with evolving NASA requirements.

NASA has released an RFP for the Mars Telecommunications Network, aimed at enhancing communication capabilities for Mars missions. This initiative is critical for ensuring reliable connectivity for future robotic and human exploration efforts planned by 2030, highlighting opportunities for contractors in space communication technologies.

NASA has awarded a significant $180.4 million contract to Intuitive Machines for its Nova-D lunar lander. This mission, featuring international collaboration with the Australian Space Agency, aims to bolster NASA's Artemis program by enhancing lunar exploration capabilities and commercial payload delivery.

NASA's Artemis II mission has completed crucial testing phases, setting the stage for future lunar missions. Procurement opportunities are anticipated in launch operations, spacecraft integration, and ground infrastructure as the agency readies for Artemis III in 2027 and beyond.

Blue Origin has launched a rigorous testing campaign for its Blue Moon Mark 2 lunar lander, part of a **$3.4 billion** contract with **NASA**. This initiative underscores significant procurement opportunities in the space sector, particularly for contractors focused on aerospace and mission support.

The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology is investigating allegations of NASA executing the FY2026 budget without Congressional approval. This could lead to shifts in contract funding and oversight, necessitating careful attention from procurement professionals and contractors engaged with NASA and related agencies.