Firefly Aerospace has completed a key spacecraft design review for a NASA mission that aims to deploy four robotic drones above the Moon’s south pole by late 2028.
The Texas-based space company announced on October 21 that its Elytra spacecraft had passed a preliminary design review (PDR) for NASA’s MoonFall mission. The milestone clears the way for the next design phase before hardware production and assembly.
The spacecraft will transport drones developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from Earth orbit to lunar orbit before releasing them above the Moon’s south pole. The drones are intended to survey terrain, identify potential landing sites, and locate resources for future human missions.
The review involved engineers from Firefly, NASA and JPL, who assessed whether the spacecraft’s proposed systems could meet mission requirements. Firefly said it completed the review less than four months after receiving its contract.
Spacecraft systems pass scrutiny
The review examined Elytra’s structural design, thermal management, propulsion, avionics, navigation, communications and control systems. Engineers also evaluated plans for qualification and environmental testing.
These systems will play different roles during the mission. Propulsion will move the spacecraft toward the Moon, while guidance and navigation systems will help control its trajectory and position. Thermal systems will protect equipment against temperature extremes in space.
Communications systems will support contact with mission controllers, while the spacecraft’s control systems will coordinate operations during the journey and deployment.
Firefly said the review confirmed that Elytra’s design meets mission requirements. However, this was a design assessment rather than a demonstration of flight-ready hardware.
The company will now prepare for its critical design review (CDR), a more detailed evaluation intended to establish whether the spacecraft is ready to move toward manufacturing.
“Completing PDR less than four months after contract award is a testament to the speed and rigor Firefly brings to every mission,” said Ray Allensworth, vice president of spacecraft at Firefly Aerospace.
Four drones target south
NASA’s MoonFall mission is intended to gather information about the lunar south pole, a region being considered for future human exploration and infrastructure development.
JPL is responsible for building the four drones and managing the mission, while NASA will arrange the launch vehicle. Firefly will provide the spacecraft needed to transport and deploy the drones.
After launch, Elytra is expected to travel from Earth orbit to lunar orbit. It will then release the drones above the lunar south pole, where they are planned to conduct surveys using high-definition optical cameras and other instruments.
The observations could help mission planners identify safer landing locations and map resources needed for future lunar operations. Such information would be useful for selecting sites where spacecraft, equipment, and eventually astronauts could operate.
MoonFall is part of the initial phase of NASA’s broader Moon Base initiative, which aims to support a sustained human presence and expand scientific and commercial activity near the lunar south pole.
Firefly is targeting launch readiness by late 2028. The company has not yet demonstrated the MoonFall drone deployment, and the spacecraft must still complete its final design review, manufacturing, assembly, and testing before launch.