Firefly Aerospace launches its 4th Alpha rocket

The robotic lander will attempt to touch down on the lunar surface at Mare Crisium near Mons Latreille Sunday morning. The anticipated landing time is no earlier than 3:34 a.m. EST (0834 UTC).

NASA announced Thursday nine companies that will be eligible to compete for up to $2.6 billion in contracts over the next decade to ferry scientific instruments and tech demo payloads to the moon aboard commercial robotic landers, a first step in what agency officials said will foster expanded private investment in deep space exploration and an eventual return of humans to the lunar surface.

The lunar operation marks the longest commercial mission on the Moon to date. Firefly Aerospace is in the midst of preparing for its next trip to the Moon, which is set to launch in 2026.