NASA selects lunar lander developers
Three companies are designing their own version of the vehicle
NASA has taken another step towards returning to the Moon by contracting Blue Origin, SpaceX and Alabama-based Dynetics to build the next generation of lunar landers, the agency recently announced. The three spaceflight companies have each been tasked with designing and building a new landing system that will carry astronauts to and from the lunar surface. The move is part of the space agency’s Artemis programme – an initiative aiming to return astronauts to the Moon, one of whom will be the first female moonwalker, by 2024.
“We are on our way,” says Douglas Loverro, associate administrator for NASA’s Human Explorations and Operations Mission Directorate. “With these awards we begin an exciting partnership with the best of industry to accomplish the nation’s goals. We have much work ahead, especially over these next critical 10 months. I have high confidence that working with these teammates, we will succeed.”
www.nasa.gov