NASA expects to assign demonstration missions to current human landing system providers, SpaceX and Blue Origin, to mature designs of their large cargo landers following successful design certification reviews.
Having two lunar lander providers with different approaches for crew and cargo landing capability provides mission flexibility while ensuring a regular cadence of Moon landings for continued discovery and scientific opportunity.” NASA plans for at least two delivery missions with large cargo.
The agency expects Blue Origin to deliver a lunar surface habitat no earlier than fiscal year 2033.
Blue Origin will conduct its cargo lander work and demonstration mission under NextSTEP Appendix P. NASA expects to issue an initial request for proposals to both companies in early 2025.
For more on NASA’s Human Landing System Program, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/hls -end- James Gannon Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 james.h.gannon@nasa.gov
With the Artemis campaign, NASA is preparing for long-term lunar surface exploration in collaboration with its industry and international partners to promote science and discovery for the common good. NASA plans to give SpaceX and Blue Origin more work under their current contracts to develop landers that will transport heavy machinery and infrastructure to the lunar surface as part of that endeavor.
After successful design certification reviews, NASA anticipates deploying demonstration missions to SpaceX and Blue Origin, two current providers of human landing systems, to mature designs of their large cargo landers. These missions build upon NASA’s 2023 request that the two companies create cargo versions of their crewed human landing systems, which are currently being developed for Artemis III, Artemis IV, and Artemis V.
Stephen D. Creech, assistant deputy associate administrator for technical, Moon to Mars Program Office, stated that besides Artemis V, NASA is preparing for both crewed missions and future services missions to the Moon. “International and industry partners are working together on the Artemis campaign. Having two lunar lander providers with different approaches for crew and cargo landing capability provides mission flexibility while ensuring a regular cadence of Moon landings for continued discovery and scientific opportunity. “.”.
At least two delivery missions carrying heavy loads are planned by NASA. The agency plans to use SpaceX’s Starship cargo lander to support Artemis VII and future missions by delivering a pressurized rover—currently under development by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)—to the lunar surface by fiscal year 2032 at the latest. By fiscal year 2033 at the latest, the agency anticipates that Blue Origin will deliver a lunar surface habitat.
Lisa Watson-Morgan, program manager, Human Landing System, at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, stated, “The agency assigned a pressurized rover mission for SpaceX and a lunar habitat delivery for Blue Origin based on current design and development progress for both crew and cargo landers and the Artemis mission schedules for the crew lander versions.”. In order to best prepare for the future of deep space exploration, these large cargo lander demonstration missions seek to maximize our technical expertise, funding, and resources from both NASA and industry. “.”.
For the Starship cargo mission, SpaceX will continue to develop cargo landers and get ready under Option B of the NextSTEP Appendix H contract. Blue Origin will use NextSTEP Appendix P to carry out its cargo lander work and demonstration mission. Both businesses should receive an initial request for proposals from NASA in early 2025.
Through the Artemis campaign, NASA will learn how to live and work remotely, explore more of the Moon than ever before, and get ready for future Mars exploration. NASA’s foundation for deep space exploration includes the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, exploration ground systems, and Orion spacecraft, as well as commercial human landing systems, next-generation spacesuits, the Gateway lunar space station, and future rovers.
Visit to learn more about NASA’s Human Landing System Program.
https://www.nasa.gov/hls.dot.
“-end-“.
James Gannon. .
Headquarters in Washington.
(202) 358-1600.
james. h . gannon@nasa . gov.
