NASA invested over half a billion dollars in the National Team in 2020-21, and we performed well. The team developed and risk-reduced a safe, mass-efficient design that could achieve a human landing in 2024.” Bezos added.
Bezos wants a contract for the Human Landing System
In April NASA announced it would only award the HLS contract to one company, SpaceX. That company had given an estimate of $2.89 billion for its lander. This was half of Blue Origin’s $5.99 billion proposals.
Bezos is now offering to cut the initial price tag by $2 billion.
NASA admits that the “current fiscal year budget did not support even a single [contract] award.” In response, SpaceX updated its payment schedule so it would fit “within NASA’s current budget.” The space agency has severe budgetary constraints.
NASA requested 3.4 billion for the HLS program. The 2021 Congress approved just $850 million.
The Senate also passed a bill that requires NASA to select two companies for the HLS lander. And they are providing the additional funds to make it happen.
