Lunar Outpost and SpaceX sign their second commercial agreement for the Starship lunar lander

SpaceX inked its second commercial agreement to use a lunar lander version of the enormous vehicle to deliver a payload to the moon as the company's Starship test program continues to gain traction.

According to the Colorado-based business, Starship will deliver Lunar Outpost's tough rover, Eagle, to the moon by 2029. Justin Cyrus, CEO of Lunar Outpost, declined to comment on the mission's other specifics, including whether it will be a dedicated flight or a ride-share, or how much it will cost. Additionally, it's unclear how Starship will get the rover—which resembles a tiny pickup truck—from inside the spacecraft to the surface.

NASA gave Lunar Outpost and two other teams a significant boost to their rover aspirations earlier this year when they were chosen for the first phase of a lunar terrain vehicle (LTV) program. Under NASA's Artemis program, the three teams were chosen for the one-year contract to develop their rover concepts for possible astronaut usage. Following the 12-month term, the three businesses will compete for a demonstration work order in a subsequent competitive request for offers.

Although the agency has stated that it is only choosing one vendor because of budgetary constraints, the LTV program has the potential to be extremely profitable, with task orders potentially worth $4.6 billion over the next 13 years.

According to Cyrus, Lunar Outpost intends to move forward with rover development even if NASA does not choose the team that it leads, which also consists of Leidos, General Motors, Goodyear, and MDA Space.

“Lunar Outpost Eagle is our flagship vehicle and will be the backbone of outposts on other planetary bodies,” Cyrus said in an emailed statement. “Our company has been focused on mobility since inception and the lunar terrain vehicle has accelerated our truly industry leading capabilities which unlock a sustainable presence on the moon and Mars.”

Last month, the business also closed a Series A financing for an undisclosed sum to fund a number of projects, including the development of the rover.

The new agreement for the Starship cargo delivery comes after SpaceX signed a similar agreement with Venturi Astrolab, which is also in charge of a team chosen through the LTV competition, to carry its rover to the moon's surface last year.