NASA Crowns New Leader in Race to Colonize the Moon. It’s Not SpaceX

For years, the conversation around humanity’s future in space has revolved around one destination: Mars. Much of that discussion has centered on Elon Musk and SpaceX, whose long-term vision is nothing less than building a self-sustaining city on the Red Planet. But before NASA attempts a journey that spans more than 140 million miles, it is pursuing a far more achievable goal much closer to home. 

The agency’s latest Moon Base update shows that establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon is now the priority. And surprisingly, the company leading NASA’s first step isn’t SpaceX at all. It is Blue Origin.

NASA’s Moon Base Plans Are Taking Shape

According to NASA’s May 26 Moon Base announcement, the agency has laid out a phased strategy for building a permanent outpost near the Moon’s South Pole. Phase One runs through 2029 and includes up to 25 missions and 21 lunar landings designed to test technologies, scout locations, and establish the infrastructure needed for long-term operations.

The first three Moon Base missions have already been selected:

The clear headline is Moon Base I. NASA selected Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander to launch no earlier than fall 2026 and deliver the first payloads supporting the Moon Base initiative. The mission will carry scientific instruments that study how rocket exhaust interacts with the lunar surface and improve navigation capabilities for future missions. 

Just as important, it will demonstrate precision landing, autonomous guidance systems, and cryogenic propulsion technologies needed for future lunar operations.

The Biggest Surprise Is Who Isn’t Leading

Although SpaceX’s absence from this announcement stands out, it doesn’t mean NASA is distancing itself from the company. Far from it. NASA’s fiscal 2025 prime contractor data shows SpaceX remained the agency’s second-largest prime contractor, trailing only the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. SpaceX received approximately $2.15 billion in NASA funding during the year, making it one of the agency’s most important commercial partners.

Yet when NASA selected the first mission specifically tied to establishing a permanent Moon Base, Blue Origin got the nod.

That’s notable because Blue Origin ranked just seventh among NASA’s prime contractors in fiscal 2025. Nevertheless, NASA awarded the company a $188 million contract to deliver lunar terrain vehicles and infrastructure equipment using the Blue Moon Mark 1 platform.

Granted, SpaceX remains deeply involved in NASA’s broader Artemis program and future lunar crewed missions. But when it came to launching the first dedicated Moon Base mission, Blue Origin emerged as the early leader.

Why This Matters for Investors

Investors often focus on Mars because it captures the imagination. The reality is that the Moon represents the more immediate economic opportunity.

NASA’s Moon Base roadmap envisions dozens of robotic missions, lunar vehicles, cargo landers, communications systems, power infrastructure, and eventually habitats capable of supporting rotating astronaut crews. The agency has already awarded more than $600 million in contracts tied to these initial efforts.

Regardless of how you look at it, building a permanent lunar presence will require years of government spending and commercial partnerships.

Key Takeaway

In short, NASA’s latest Moon Base update signals that the race to colonize the Moon has entered a new phase. While SpaceX continues to dominate discussions about Mars and remains one of NASA’s largest contractors, Blue Origin has captured a critical early victory.

The Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance mission will become the first of three Moon Base launches and the opening step toward a permanent lunar outpost. For investors following the space economy, that’s the real story. Mars may remain the ultimate destination, but when all is said and done, the company leading humanity’s next giant leap appears to be Blue Origin — at least for now.