NASA's Artemis program has chosen Blue Origin, the aerospace manufacturer founded by Jeff Bezos, to develop the landing system for the third crewed Artemis Moon mission, known as Artemis V.
This announcement comes as NASA strives to return humans to the lunar surface in the next couple of years and advance its ambitious exploration goals.
Blue Origin to Help Bring Back Astronauts to the Moon
Blue Origin is already working on its own BE-7 rocket engine-packed lunar lander, Blue Moon, which will play a crucial role in the Artemis V mission.
Under the contract awarded by NASA, Blue Origin will receive $3.4 billion to develop further and refine its lander technology, ensuring its readiness for the upcoming mission.
The Artemis V Mission
Engadget tells us in a report that the Artemis V mission will involve an Orion capsule flight carrying four astronauts.
Two crew members will utilize the Blue Origin lander, which will be docked at the Gateway space station, to make a precise touchdown at the lunar south pole.
Upon landing, the astronauts will spend an entire week conducting moonwalks, rover operations, and a range of scientific experiments.
More Companies Working on the Moon Mission
Several prominent companies are collaborating with NASA on this endeavor. Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Draper, among others, will contribute their expertise and resources to support the successful execution of the Artemis V mission.
This collaborative effort reflects NASA's commitment to leveraging private industry capabilities to facilitate human space exploration beyond Earth.
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"We are in a golden age of human spaceflight, which is made possible by NASA's commercial and international partnerships," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a press release.
"Together, we are making an investment in the infrastructure that will pave the way to land the first astronauts on Mars," he added.
It is worth noting that Blue Origin has expressed its commitment to the Artemis program by pledging a significant amount of additional funding beyond the $3.4 billion contract.
"Under this contract, Blue Origin and its National Team partners will develop and fly both a lunar lander that can make a precision landing anywhere on the Moon's surface and a cislunar transporter," Blue Origin explains in a statement.
Blue Origin Catching Up
This selection marks a significant achievement for Blue Origin, as it solidifies the company's position in the competitive realm of space exploration.
The opportunity to contribute to a crewed trip to the Moon enhances Blue Origin's reputation as a serious contender in the industry and positions them favorably for future projects.
Notably, NASA had previously chosen SpaceX's Starship for the first two crewed Artemis Moon landings, namely Artemis III and Artemis IV.
This decision to diversify partnerships allows NASA to benefit from multiple private entities' innovative and diverse approaches, ensuring a robust and dynamic space program.
NASA's increasing reliance on privately developed technology and the formation of public-private alliances demonstrate the agency's strategic approach to space exploration beyond Earth orbit.
Collaborations with companies like Blue Origin and Axiom Space (spacesuit developer) enable NASA to tap into private sector expertise while fostering innovation and competition within the industry.
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