Blue Origin has made one other try to safe a contract to construct a lunar lander for NASA’s future Artemis missions. It teamed up with a number of different corporations for the proposal, together with Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Draper. Astrobotic and Honeybee Robotics are additionally concerned.
In 2021, NASA gave SpaceX a $2.9 billion contract to make use of a model of Starship as a lunar lander. Blue Origin challenged that transfer, claiming that NASA’s “decision eliminates opportunities for competition, significantly narrows the supply base and not only delays, but also endangers America’s return to the Moon.”
Blue Origin proprietor Jeff Bezos wrote in an open letter to NASA administrator Bill Nelson in July final 12 months that his firm was prepared to waive as much as $2 billion in funds in alternate for a fixed-price lander contract. Bezos additionally complained that the choice to award a single contract gave SpaceX “a multiyear, multibillion-dollar head start” and claimed it “broke the mildew of NASA’s profitable industrial area packages by placing an finish to significant competitors for years to come back.”
NASA had meant to award two lunar lander contracts, however it opted to solely difficulty one resulting from funding considerations. In August 2021, Blue Origin filed a lawsuit towards NASA over its dealing with of the Human Landing System program. However, a Federal Court of Claims choose dominated towards Blue Origin. The lawsuit held up work on SpaceX’s lander and delayed a crewed mission to the Moon till 2025.
Earlier this 12 months, NASA mentioned it might once more settle for proposals for a second lunar lander mission. Now, Blue Origin is taking the company up on the supply. As The Wall Street Journal notes, Blue Origin will face competition from Northrop Grumman and Leidos Dynetics. Northrop Grumman labored with Blue Origin throughout the first spherical of contract bids.
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