"NASA has selected three commercial Moon landing service providers that will deliver science and technology payloads under Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) as part of the Artemis program," the release said.
Each commercial lander will carry NASA-provided payloads that will conduct science investigations and demonstrate advanced technologies on the lunar surface and scout possible locations for future human missions, the release said.
NASA awarded Orbit Beyond a $97 million contract to fly as many as four payloads to a lava plain in a lunar crater beginning in September 2020, the release said.
A second firm, Astrobotic, won a $79.5 million contract to fly up to 14 payloads to a large crater on the near side of the moon by July 2021, while the third firm, Intuitive Machines won a $77 million contract to fly up to five payloads to scientifically intriguing dark spot on the Moon, also by July 2021, the release added.
Each company will provide end-to-end commercial payload delivery services to NASA, including payload integration and operations, launch from Earth and landing on the surface of the Moon.
Astrobiotic and Intuitive Machines plan to send their landers to the moon on Space X Falcon-9 rockets, while Orbit Beyond has let to choose a company to move its equipment from Earth to lunar orbit, from which the respective landers can descend.
