April 23, 2024

NASA Seeks New Astronaut Lunar Landers for Future Artemis Moon Missions

As NASA works towards the objective of a regular cycle of moon landings, they are looking for proposals for sustainable lunar lander advancement and demonstration. NASA is preparing to return human beings to the Moon through Artemis objectives. “Partnering with American companies to do that work now allows us to utilize NASAs understanding and expertise to encourage technological developments for a continual presence at the Moon.”
NASAs existing agreement with SpaceX includes both an uncrewed and a crewed lunar landing presentation that is part of the Artemis III objective.

” Work done under this solicitation, in addition to present lander development and research studies occurring, will help construct the foundation for long-lasting deep space exploration,” said Lisa Watson-Morgan. She is the program supervisor for the Human Landing System Program at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “Partnering with American companies to do that work now allows us to utilize NASAs understanding and know-how to encourage technological developments for a continual existence at the Moon.”
A picture of an artists illustration of an Artemis astronaut stepping from a Moon lander onto the lunar surface area. Credit: NASA
This final require proposals follows NASA integrated industry feedback on the draft solicitation. That was released on March 31, and encouraged business to send comments to help form a crucial element of NASAs human expedition Artemis architecture. In addition, NASA hosted a virtual industry day in April to present an overview of the solicitation and to supply business a chance to ask clarifying questions and offer remarks.
NASAs existing agreement with SpaceX consists of both an uncrewed and a crewed lunar landing demonstration that becomes part of the Artemis III mission. This objective will mark humankinds very first return to the Moon in more than 50 years. The firm plans to work out an option under this contract, referred to as Option B. This includes asking SpaceX to develop its present Artemis III Starship Human Landing System design to fulfill a prolonged set of requirements for sustaining objectives at the Moon and to carry out another crewed presentation landing.
These concurrent sustaining lander development efforts will fulfill NASAs requirements for repeating, long-term access to the lunar surface area. This includes the ability to dock with Gateway for crew transfer, accommodating an increased crew size, and providing more mass to the surface of the Moon.
NASAs Artemis efforts include landing the first lady and first person of color on the Moon, sending out a suite of new science instruments and innovation demonstrations to study the Moon, and more. They will leverage their Artemis experiences and technologies to get ready for the next huge leap– sending out astronauts on an objective to Mars.
Propositions for the sustainable lunar lander development and demonstration are due by November 15, 2022.

Artist idea of the Blue Origin National Team crewed lander on the surface area of the Moon as part of the Artemis program. Credit: Blue Origin
As NASA pursues the goal of a routine cycle of moon landings, they are looking for proposals for sustainable lunar lander advancement and demonstration. NASA is preparing to return human beings to the Moon through Artemis objectives. This includes landing the very first woman and very first individual of color on the lunar surface area, as well as long-term clinical discovery and exploration.
NASA has actually provided requirements for business intrigued in showing and establishing astronaut lunar landers under the solicitation, Human Landing System Sustaining Lunar Development. These efforts will pave the way for several companies to offer repeating Moon landing services beyond the Artemis III objective, which is presently prepared for no earlier than 2025.
To be chosen under this agreement, business will be needed to carry out one uncrewed and one crewed lunar landing demonstration. NASA will accredit any lander system to fulfill its requirements prior to the crewed presentation objective( s).