SpaceX and Blue Origin to Create Lunar Landers for NASA

The US space agency NASA has chosen Blue Origin, Dynetics and SpaceX to create lunar landers for its Artemis mission. The goal of the mission is to have humans on the lunar surface by 2024.

Blue Origin will create an integrated lander vehicle based on its own New Glenn rocket and ULA Vulcan launch system, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin and Northrop, among others. Their design includes a three-step architecture for ascent, descent and commute. Blue Origin has been awarded a $579 million contract. Dynetics will create a human landing system that also works with the ULA Vulcan launch system to bring humans to the surface. This company will receive 253 million dollars.

SpaceX is going to make its Starship lander as a candidate for the moon mission. This lander uses the Super Heavy Rocket for the demonstrations. The company optimizes the Starship for multiple landings and take-offs from the lunar surface. The lander can thus deliver people and large amounts of cargo, for example to be able to supply a base on the moon. It is a $135 million contract.

The selected companies will develop their concepts during the contract period until February 21. NASA then looks at which landers are suitable for demonstration missions. With the announcement of the choice, Boeing, among others, appears to be left out. That company unveiled its design for a lunar lander last year. The final lander should fly to the moon on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket in 2024, with the astronauts sitting in an Orion capsule on top of the rocket.

From left to right the designs of Blue Origin, Dynetics and SpaceX.