U.S. space agency NASA struck a $4.6 billion deal for six Orion spacecraft and associated services from defense contractor Lockheed Martin (LMT) - Get Report .

The deal is part of NASA's Artemis missions to return humans to the moon.

The order is structured in stages. The first and immediate part, worth $2.7 billion, is for three spacecraft. The space agency is then expected to place another order for three craft in 2022 for $1.9 billion.

"This contract clearly shows NASA's commitment not only to Orion but also to Artemis and its bold goal of sending humans to the moon in the next five years," said Rick Ambrose, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Space.

The deal, which runs through September 2030, allows for another six vehicles to get ordered, for a total of 12.

Lockheed Martin shares were inactive in premarket trading.

Constable owns none of the securities listed in this story.