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NASA Picks SpaceX to Launch Mission to Saturn’s Moon Titan

Space agency’s launch provider of choice has been called upon to handle yet another critical mission.

Jack Daleo

Friday, November 29, 2024 at 03:37 PM ET

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Edited By: tccjeremy

An artist’s concept of the Dragonfly rotorcraft lander exploring the dunes of Saturn’s moon Titan. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

NASA has awarded SpaceX a $256.6 million contract for the Dragonfly mission, launching a hybrid rotorcraft-lander to Saturn’s moon Titan in July 2028 aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket.
The Dragonfly mission aims to explore Titan, a rare ocean world, in search of the building blocks for life and to determine its habitability.
This mission will be NASA's first time flying a nuclear-powered rotorcraft vehicle on another planet's moon for science, with the Dragonfly capable of traveling tens of miles per hour.

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NASA’s favorite contractor has picked up yet another critical launch contract.

The space agency on Monday awarded a $256.6 million firm-fixed-price contract to SpaceX, which will launch the Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan on the back of its Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Dragonfly’s launch window opens in July 2028. NASA’s Launch Services Program at Kennedy will be responsible for managing the contracted service.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.