The Moon is experiencing more activity than at any time since the Apollo era. NASA's Artemis program is targeting the first crewed landing since 1972 in 2026. The CLPS program has contracted $2.6 billion in commercial lunar deliveries. Intuitive Machines became the first private company to land on the Moon in 2024. China, India, and Japan have all achieved lunar milestones in the past two years. This page maps the complete lunar economy: Artemis timeline, every CLPS mission, the companies building landers and rovers, international programs, lunar resources, and the path to a $100 billion+ cislunar market by 2040.
NASA's Artemis program is the agency's plan to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustained presence. The program uses the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion capsule for Earth-to-lunar-orbit transport, with commercial landers providing surface access. Artemis III in 2026 would mark the first human lunar landing in over 50 years.
Orion capsule lunar flyby and return. SLS maiden flight. 25-day mission.
4 astronauts, lunar flyby without landing. First crewed flight beyond LEO since Apollo 17.
First lunar landing since 1972. SpaceX Starship HLS. South pole. 2 astronauts on surface.
First Gateway module delivery. Blue Origin Blue Moon lander. Extended surface operations.
Regular surface missions, ISRU demonstrations, expanding infrastructure. Astrolab FLEX rover.
The CLPS program contracts commercial companies to deliver NASA science payloads to the lunar surface. Valued at up to $2.6 billion, CLPS accepts higher risk for faster, cheaper delivery. The program has produced mixed results -- Astrobotic's Peregrine failed, Intuitive Machines' IM-1 landed but tipped -- but represents a new model for lunar exploration.
| Mission | Date | Outcome | Payloads | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peregrine (Astrobotic) | Jan 2024 | Propulsion anomaly, did not land | 20 payloads | First CLPS attempt |
| IM-1 Nova-C (Intuitive Machines) | Feb 2024 | Landed (tipped on side) | 6 NASA payloads | First US lunar landing since Apollo |
| IM-2 (Intuitive Machines) | 2025 | Targeting south pole | PRIME-1 drill, NASA payloads | Water ice prospecting |
| Blue Ghost (Firefly) | 2025 | Mare Crisium target | 10 NASA payloads | First Firefly lunar mission |
| Griffin (Astrobotic) | 2025-2026 | VIPER rover delivery | VIPER rover | Largest CLPS lander |
| IM-3 (Intuitive Machines) | 2026 | Multiple deployments | Lunar relay, payloads | Expanding IM capability |
The lunar sector includes publicly traded lander companies, private rover builders, and the largest aerospace companies in the world. Intuitive Machines is the most successful commercial lunar company to date, with a $4B+ market cap and the only successful private lunar landing in history.
Focus: Lunar landers and services. Notable: First private company to land on the Moon.
Focus: Lunar landers and rovers. Notable: Leading non-US commercial lunar company.
Focus: Lunar landers (Peregrine, Griffin). Notable: VIPER rover delivery contract.
Focus: Launch vehicles and lunar landers. Notable: Alpha rocket + Blue Ghost lander.
Focus: Lunar rovers and mobility. Notable: Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform.
Focus: Large lunar rover (FLEX). Notable: NASA contract for Artemis surface mobility.
The Moon is now a multi-national destination. China is the most active lunar program after NASA, with successful sample returns and planned crewed missions. India, Japan, and South Korea have all achieved lunar milestones in the 2020s. A new "Moon race" is underway between US-led Artemis and China-led ILRS coalitions.
| Country | Program | Status | Est. Spending |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | Chang'e Series / ILRS | CE-5 samples (2020), CE-6 far side (2024), CE-7 (2026), crewed ~2030 | $5-8B (est.) |
| India | Chandrayaan Series | Chandrayaan-3 landed (2023), Chandrayaan-4 sample return (planned) | $1-2B |
| Japan | SLIM + JAXA Lunar | SLIM precision landing (2024), Artemis partner | $1-2B |
| Europe (ESA) | Artemis/Gateway partner | Gateway modules, CLPS payloads, PROSPECT drill | $2-3B |
| South Korea | KPLO Danuri | Danuri orbiter operational (2022+), lunar lander planned | $500M+ |
The long-term viability of the lunar economy depends on using local resources rather than shipping everything from Earth. Water ice at the south pole is the most strategically important resource, enabling propellant production and life support.
The lunar economy is at an inflection point. After decades of dormancy following Apollo, the Moon has become the most contested destination in space. Artemis III in 2026 will be the defining moment -- a successful crewed landing will validate the entire Artemis architecture and accelerate investment across the sector. The CLPS program, despite mixed results (one failure, one partial success), has proven that commercial lunar delivery is viable and affordable compared to traditional NASA missions. Intuitive Machines (LUNR) is the standout company with a $4B+ market cap and operational flight heritage. The geopolitical dimension is critical: the US-led Artemis Accords coalition and the China-Russia ILRS represent competing visions for lunar governance and resource rights. The $100B+ lunar economy projection by 2040 is achievable if ISRU demonstrates viable water extraction, but remains aspirational until propellant production on the Moon is proven. Starship is the wild card -- its ability to deliver 100+ tonnes to the lunar surface would change the calculus for every lunar program.