SpaceX, Blue Origin Earn Artemis Cargo Lander Contracts

NASA revealed its plans to award contracts to SpaceX and Blue Origin for the development of landers designed to transport infrastructure and equipment to the moon. The announcement comes as the agency prepares for sustained lunar surface exploration through its Artemis missions.

Designing Large Cargo Landers

Following certification reviews, NASA intends to assign demonstration missions to SpaceX and Blue Origin to advance the designs of large cargo landers. NASA plans to release an initial request for proposals in 2025.

The new assignment follows NASA’s request in 2023 for the two aerospace companies to create cargo versions of the agency’s crewed human landing systems, currently in development for the third, fourth, and fifth Artemis missions.

Developing a Pressurized Rover and a Lunar Surface Habitat

NASA stated that the SpaceX Starship cargo lander would transport a pressurized rover currently in development by Japanese aerospace agency JAXA. The agency scheduled the delivery for fiscal year 2032 to support Artemis VII and subsequent missions.

One year later, NASA expects Blue Origin to provide a lunar surface habitat.

Getting Humans to the Moon

NASA’s Artemis missions will allow the agency to explore the moon and prepare for human missions to Mars. NASA expects a crewed lunar surface landing to take place during the Artemis III mission, scheduled for September 2026.

Image Source: Shutterstock / Jaclyne Ortiz