NASA Plans Two Future Artemis Cargo Landers
NASA announced late last year it intends to award Blue Origin and SpaceX additional work under their existing contracts to develop landers that will deliver large pieces of equipment and infrastructure to the lunar surface. They expect to assign demonstration missions to these current human landing system providers to mature designs following the design certification reviews.
The American space agency plans for at least two delivery missions with large cargo. SpaceX’s Starship cargo lander will deliver a pressurised rover, currently in development by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, to the lunar surface no earlier than fiscal year 2032 in support of Artemis seven and later missions. The agency expects Blue Origin to deliver a lunar surface habitat no earlier than fiscal year 2033.
SpaceX will continue cargo lander development and prepare for the Starship cargo mission under Option B of the NextSTEP Appendix H contract. 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 early this year