NASA is seeking alternative lunar lander proposals because SpaceX is behind schedule for the Artemis III mission. Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy announced that the agency will open bidding to other companies to ensure astronauts can reach the moon before China, which aims to land by 2030. President Trump also desires a moon landing before January 20, 2029, the end of his second term.
SpaceX was awarded a contract in 2021 to provide the lander for Artemis III using its Starship vehicle. However, repeated test flight failures and the complexity of the Starship system, which requires in-orbit refueling, have caused significant delays. SpaceX must also successfully land an uncrewed Starship on the moon before Artemis III can proceed.
Companies like Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin are considered potential competitors for the new contract. Lockheed Martin is working on a design that would utilize existing technologies and hardware to accelerate development, aiming for a smaller, two-stage lander similar to Apollo-era vehicles but with updated components. While competitors acknowledge SpaceX's capabilities, there are concerns about the rapid resolution of Starship's technical challenges for a crewed mission.
Developing a new lander within the tight timeframe presents a significant cha... download the app to read more
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