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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 awarded SpaceX a $256.6 million contract to launch the Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan in July 2028 using a Falcon Heavy rocket.
Dragonfly is a nuclear-powered rotorcraft-lander designed to explore Titan for the building blocks of life, capable of traveling farther than any existing rover.
This mission, part of NASA’s New Frontiers program, marks the first time the agency will fly a vehicle on another planet's moon for scientific exploration.
SpaceX continues to be a primary commercial launch provider for NASA, handling numerous critical missions including ISS resupply, lunar landers, and future deep-space endeavors.

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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.