NASA has developed a plan for future ventures to the moon. In April 2021, SpaceX won the 2.9 billion contract to build the first human lunar landing system. It was based on the Starship design. 

Jeff Bezos-owned Blue Origin lost out to SpaceX in the bid for NASA’s Artemis Human Lunar Landing System (HLS) contract. They issued a complaint with the government watchdog. And Bezos ultimately filed a case against NASA in Federal court. 

SpaceX beat the other space ventures by tens of millions. But its competitors have always lobbied NASA to have more than one vendor.

The amended development program follows up on a $146 million plan called NextSTEP Appendix N. It will pay five companies to modify their plans for crewed lunar landers and reduce future technical risks. 

Blue Origin is partnering with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to bid. And SpaceX and Dynetics will be bidding in the contract’s Appendix N categories.

Lunar landing system #2

The HLS program is the centerpiece of the NASA Artemis Moon Program. And the SpaceX Starship design is scheduled for an uncrewed beta mission to the moon in 2024. And the first crewed lunar landing for NASA’s Artemis program is set for 2025.

 NASA released plans to choose a second space venture firm to build a second landing system capable of ferrying astronauts to-and-from the moon.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson introduced the new program, known as the Sustaining Lunar Development contract or NextSTEP Appendix P.                         

 “I promised competition, so here it is,” he told reporters.

“We expect approximately one human landing per year, over a decade or so, and these are not isolated missions,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said today. “Each is going to build on the past progress. And all of that is, of course, in preparation for us to have the first human mission to Mars late in the 2030s or early 2040s.”

The program is projecting that the second wave of lunar landing systems could go into service in the 2026-2027 timeframe. And would be tested with an uncrewed mission to start.

Space-work in progress

SpaceX is meeting its milestones in the lunar Starship construction. It is on a separate contract and won’t be eligible for Option B bids. The SpaceX- NASA enhanced contract to upgrade the initial landing system was awarded under Option A.

The upgraded specifications will boost crew capacity, instrumentation, and cargo carrying capabilities.  The new version HLS is being designed for longer than the six days in the current design.

Lisa Watson-Morgan, manager for the Human Landing System Program said, new plans are to make the lander dock with the Gateway space platform NASA is planning to develop.

The new program follows up on a $146 million effort called NextSTEP Appendix N, which is paying five companies to fine-tune their plans for crewed lunar landers and reduce future technical risks.