NASA to Expand Lunar Lander Work with Blue Origin, SpaceX

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Los Angeles: NASA announced plans to assign additional work to Blue Origin and SpaceX under their existing contracts to develop large cargo landers for delivering critical equipment and infrastructure to the lunar surface.

The space agency intends to assign demonstration missions to both companies, advancing the designs of their cargo landers following successful design certification reviews. This move builds on NASA’s 2023 request for SpaceX and Blue Origin to create cargo versions of their crewed human landing systems.

Advancing the Artemis Campaign

Stephen D. Creech, assistant deputy associate administrator for the Moon to Mars Program Office, emphasized the significance of collaboration in the Artemis program.

“The Artemis campaign is a collaborative effort with international and industry partners. Having two lunar lander providers with different approaches for crew and cargo landing capability ensures mission flexibility and a steady cadence of moon landings for scientific discovery and exploration,” Creech said.

Mission Timelines and Goals

NASA has outlined plans for at least two cargo delivery missions. SpaceX’s Starship cargo lander is expected to deliver a pressurized rover to the lunar surface no earlier than fiscal year 2032, supporting Artemis VII and subsequent missions. Blue Origin is anticipated to deploy a lunar surface habitat by fiscal year 2033.

These missions are part of NASA’s broader efforts to establish sustainable lunar operations and lay the groundwork for future Mars exploration. The agency’s commitment to engaging multiple partners aims to diversify technological solutions and enhance mission resilience.