NASA has extended the timeline for selecting its lunar lander provider for the Artemis program, granting itself additional weeks to evaluate options. Meanwhile, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Dynetics continue advancing their prototypes.
In May, NASA awarded contracts to Blue Origin, Dynetics, and SpaceX to develop human landing systems for the Artemis program, targeting the first woman and next man on the Moon in 2024. These companies are building prototypes of lunar landers, originally slated for review soon.
Each offers a unique design: SpaceX leverages its reusable Starship, now in testing; Blue Origin's 12-meter system features a descent stage for landing and a separate ascent vehicle to rendezvous with Lockheed Martin's Orion capsule; Dynetics' design mirrors the Apollo module with a low-profile cabin.
Funding varies by proposal: Blue Origin received $579 million, Dynetics $253 million, and SpaceX $135 million. NASA emphasizes these reflect requested amounts, not preferences.
NASA shifted the decision from February 28 to April 30, as noted in a January 27 update.
This was anticipated, per The Verge, amid budget shortfalls: NASA requested $3.3 billion for Artemis but received only $850 million. The new administration prioritizes issues like climate change, likely driving the two-month delay.
Kathy Lueders, head of NASA's human spaceflight, remains confident in the 2024 goal. However, the Biden administration has not outlined its plans, and experts view the timeline as increasingly challenging.
