NASA names firms to develop rover for first crewed Moon mission since 1972

Astrolab Venturi is one of three companies chosen by NASA to create designs for the next lunar rover [Patrick T Fallon/AFP]

NASA has awarded contracts to three companies to develop vehicles for the first crewed missions to the Moon in more than five decades.

Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost and Venturi Astrolab – based in Texas, Colorado and California, respectively – were chosen to create designs for the lunar rover under a contract worth up to $4.6bn, NASA said on Wednesday.