NASA has awarded Blue Origin $3.4 billion {dollars} for its Human Touchdown System (HLS), Blue Moon. Blue Moon will launch atop their model new rocket, New Glenn, and can assist touchdown capabilities for Artemis V, at the moment scheduled no sooner than 2029.
NASA had initially solely chosen SpaceX to land their HLS variant, Starship, to land on the Moon and had awarded them $2.89 billion {dollars}.
Nevertheless, it was met with a number of complaints, together with a lawsuit from Blue Origin, which they subsequently misplaced. Within the following months, NASA opened up a 2nd competitors for one more HLS wherein groups from Blue Origin and Dynetics competed. Blue Origin’s Vice President John Couluris stated they will even present “nicely North of” the $3.4 billion greenback contract, bringing the full price to ~$7 billion {dollars}.
We chosen @BlueOrigin to develop the human touchdown system for the #Artemis V mission. This element for deep area transportation will assist us in our aim of sending astronauts to the floor of the Moon and returning them dwelling safely: https://t.co/KMq5fUn0ll pic.twitter.com/mpfUjWr6OX
— NASA (@NASA) Might 19, 2023
The Blue Origin nationwide group is comprised of Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, Draper, Boeing, Astrobotic, and Honeybee Robotics. The Blue Moon lander will first carry out an uncrewed demonstration touchdown no sooner than 2028 and, if all goes nicely, will then transfer ahead with the Artemis V crewed touchdown on the Moon. The lander can be able to flying in a cargo-only model.
To get to the Moon, Blue Origin will launch New Glenn with the unfueled lander in a 7-meter fairing into orbit, the place it should meet with a gasoline depot to fill the lander with propellant. Blue Moon would then proceed to NRHO (Close to-Rectilinear Halo Orbit) to dock with Gateway, the place Astronauts that arrived aboard Orion will then board Blue Moon lunar lander and proceed to land on the Moon.
Vice President John Couluris additionally indicated Blue Origin will carry out two pathfinder landings on the Moon’s south pole previous to the Uncrewed demonstration touchdown. Seen under is a check of the BE-7 lunar lander engine.
Final week, our BE-7 group performed one other profitable Thrust Chamber Meeting (TCA) check at NASA Marshall Area Flight Middle Check Stand 116. Our checks on an upgraded TCA deliver our cumulative check time to greater than 4000 seconds, and we’re on monitor in our engine growth path. pic.twitter.com/LYdXfcInxl
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) March 28, 2023
As soon as Blue Moon leaves the Lunar floor, it should dock as soon as once more at Gateway for the Crew to disembark and board Orion once more for his or her journey again to Earth. The Blue Moon lander would then keep in NRHO and be able to a number of landings on the Moon, solely needing to refuel for future landings.
As of now, the HLS landers for future Artemis missions are the SpaceX Starship, which is able to land Astronauts on the Moon for Artemis III and Artemis IV, adopted by Blue Origin touchdown Astronauts for Artemis V. NASA is more than likely to make use of these touchdown programs for Artemis VI and past till a brand new HLS is introduced sooner or later.