The highly anticipated launch of Astrobotic’s Griffin-1 lunar lander, which will be carried by SpaceX’s formidable Falcon Heavy rocket, has been rescheduled to no earlier than July 2026. This commercial mission, initially aimed for late 2025, is set to transport crucial payloads for NASA and other entities to the Moon — including advanced rovers from both Astrobotic and Astrolab. This will mark Astrobotic’s second attempt at a lunar landing; its previous endeavor, Peregrine Mission One, unfortunately failed in early 2024 due to a propellant leak shortly after liftoff.
Astrobotic’s Griffin Moon Lander Progresses Towards 2026 Falcon Heavy Launch
An update from Astrobotic on October 24 revealed that the Griffin spacecraft is currently undergoing critical payload integration and software testing at their Pennsylvania facility. Engineers are meticulously conducting propulsion tests and avionics validation. These efforts are part of a comprehensive preparation for environmental trials designed to simulate the various demanding stages of launch and lunar operations. The company has confirmed that almost all major components, such as thrusters, solar panels, and payload ramps, are already integrated into the vehicle.
The Griffin mission is a key component of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, aimed at supporting the agency’s broader Artemis program. It will deliver scientific experiments and other vital payloads to the lunar surface. Interestingly, NASA’s VIPER rover, originally slated for this mission, was reassigned to a Blue Origin lunar mission planned for 2027. In its place, Astrobotic will now carry Astrolab’s FLIP rover, its own CubeRover, and a collection of smaller cultural payloads, including the innovative MoonBox and Galactic Library capsules.
As Astrobotic moves closer to the Griffin’s lunar readiness, successfully completing propulsion and tank milestones, SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy is also progressing towards its first reflight with a static fire test. While the CLPS program has faced several challenges, the anticipated success of the Griffin mission aims to re-establish confidence in lunar exploration. The Falcon Heavy is expected to launch the spacecraft around July 2026.