Live Feeds
● LIVE Updated 17d ago · 15 sources tracked

Astrobotic unveils Griffin-1 lunar lander for NASA Moon Base mission

Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic officially unveiled its Griffin-1 lunar lander on June 15, 2026, designed to deliver NASA’s Moon Base II payloads. The lander is now undergoing environmental testing in California before a planned fourth-quarter 2026 launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. This mission marks a key step in NASA’s lunar infrastructure plans, with Griffin-1 carrying one of the heaviest payloads ever sent to the Moon’s surface.

RSS Source map (18)

What changed

Astrobotic publicly showcased the Griffin-1 lander, confirming its readiness for testing and reiterating a Q4 2026 launch timeline after prior delays.

Live updates

  1. Astrobotic Griffin-1 lander unveiled for NASA Moon Base II mission

    Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic officially unveiled its Griffin-1 lunar lander on June 15, 2026, designed to deliver NASA’s Moon Base II payloads. The lander is now undergoing environmental testing in California before a planned fourth-quarter 2026 launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. This mission marks a key step in NASA’s lunar infrastructure plans, with Griffin-1 carrying one of the heaviest payloads ever sent to the Moon’s surface.

    What's confirmed:

    • Astrobotic unveiled the Griffin-1 lunar lander on June 15, 2026, at its Pittsburgh headquarters, with NASA and industry partners in attendance.
    • Griffin-1 is designed to carry NASA’s Moon Base II payloads, including research equipment and technology demonstrations for future lunar infrastructure.
    • The lander is set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, following environmental testing in California.
    • Griffin-1 is capable of delivering a payload of 1,377 pounds to the lunar surface, one of the heaviest ever sent to the Moon.
    • The lander is now undergoing environmental testing before its planned launch, a critical step in its development process.
    • Astrobotic has faced multiple launch delays but has reaffirmed its commitment to the Q4 2026 timeline for Griffin-1.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • The Griffin-1 mission may serve as a precursor to astronaut landings under NASA’s Artemis program, though no official confirmation has been provided.
    • The lander’s unveiling was accompanied by a regional celebration, described as a 'spacecraft cathedral,' but no additional technical details were shared beyond its design and payload capacity.
    confidence 98%