Blue Origin Pledges Rapid Lunar Landing Support as NASA Reopens Lander Competition
NASA is seeking to accelerate its return to the Moon, and Blue Origin stands ready to assist, potentially reshaping the timeline for the Artemis III mission. The company, founded by Jeff Bezos, has signaled its willingness to “move heaven and Earth” to help the U.S. reclaim its lead in lunar exploration, according to remarks made by its CEO.
A Race Against Time
The urgency stems from growing concerns that China may land humans on the Moon before the United States. This year, it has become increasingly clear that, adhering to current plans, China is poised to achieve this milestone first. Approximately three weeks ago, NASA acting administrator Sean Duffy acknowledged this challenge and announced the agency would reopen the competition for a human lander, seeking proposals that could expedite the process.
Existing Contracts, Accelerated Timelines
Both SpaceX and Blue Origin currently hold contracts for developing human landers. However, the government has requested that both companies explore options to accelerate their respective timelines. NASA’s current target landing date of 2027 is considered unrealistic given the projected development of SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s large Mk. 2 lander.
Blue Origin’s New Approach
Blue Origin is already working on a revised architecture for a faster lunar landing. According to reports from early October, the company is focusing on utilizing multiple versions of its Mk. 1 cargo lander, alongside a modified version tentatively named Mk 1.5. Following Duffy’s request for revised proposals, a company representative stated that Blue Origin responded “almost immediately,” submitting an initial summary and preparing a comprehensive report.
“We’ve sent our initial summary of that over, and we have a full report of that due here shortly,” the representative said. “I’m not going to go into the details because I think that’s probably for NASA to talk about, not us, but we have some ideas that we think could accelerate the path to the Moon. And I hope NASA takes a close look.”
New Glenn Launch Supports Lunar Ambitions
This commitment comes on the heels of Blue Origin’s second launch of the New Glenn rocket, which occurred on Saturday, November 11, 2023. The mission carried the ESCAPADE spacecraft for NASA, with a launch window opening at 2:45 pm ET (19:45 UTC) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, lasting a little over two hours. The launch underscores Blue Origin’s ongoing collaboration with NASA and its dedication to advancing space exploration.
The renewed competition for the human lander contract and Blue Origin’s proactive response signal a pivotal moment in the race to return humans to the Moon, with the potential to significantly alter the established timeline and reaffirm American leadership in space.
