Draper, renowned for developing the guidance, navigation and control (GN&C) system crucial to NASA's first lunar mission, has been chosen once again by NASA for its upcoming moon exploration endeavor. With a $73 million award from NASA, we will lead a team with ispace technologies U.S. and Karman Space & Defense. Together, we will deliver three NASA-sponsored science payloads to the far side of the lunar surface in 2026 as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) task order CP-12 managed by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.
Do you have any questions or comments? Contact CLPS@draper.com.
Meet the Visionary Team Who Redefines Boundaries
Draper
As a prime contractor, we will provide the descent guidance, navigation and control system (GN&C) for the lunar lander and overall program management, systems engineering, integration and test and mission and quality assurance.
Learn More About UsFast Facts
Apollo
Safely brought NASA astronauts to the moon and back
$600M+
In U.S. government and Commercial contracts annually
100% key participant
In NASA human space missions since Apollo
90 years
In operation
ispace-U.S.
To fulfill their role, ispace-U.S. will serve as the design agent and mission operator, leveraging their made-in-the-USA APEX 1.0 lunar lander.
Visit ispaceFast Facts
Total Cumulative Funding of 400M
Lunar exploration company
2 Missions will be completed by 2026 (schedules are as of August 2024)
In 2023 and 2024, launching with SpaceX
Flight heritage
Leveraging experience from two lunar missions to inform AI&T and design
100+ Employees at our U.S. Headquarters in Denver
Karman Space and Defense
To perform their role, Karman Space and Defense will lead lander manufacturing and assembly, integration and test.
Visit Karman Space and DefenseFast Facts
1,000+ Team Members
Skilled and experienced experts committed to delivering excellence
150+ Engineers
Including mechanical/structural, electrical, ordnance, and more
45+ Years of Expertise
Fielded and flight-proven designs on major space programs
Specializing in Payload Protection & Deployment, Aerodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion Systems
700,000 sq ft Production Space in the U.S.
Design & Analysis, Vertically Integrated Production, and System Qualification & Testing
The Sky is the Limit with Our Partnership
Commercial Lunar Payload (CLPS) Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)
Team Draper was awarded an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle to support NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative in 2018.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said, "The innovation of America’s aerospace companies, wedded with our big goals in science and human exploration, are going to help us achieve amazing things on the Moon and feed forward to Mars."
Team Draper’s uncrewed lander will compete for missions to complete sample collection and return, demonstrate the use of in-space resources, and reduce risk for the production of human landers. These missions pave the way for a human return to the moon, as well as enable human exploration of Mars and beyond.
