NASA is tasking SpaceX and Blue Origin with delivering its heavy cargo to the Moon

NASA has tasked SpaceX and Blue Origin with delivering large pieces of equipment to the Moon. 

The US space agency previously asked both companies to help develop lunar landers that would be used for cargo deliveries for its Artemis missions. 

In a new update, NASA has said it intends to ‘award Blue Origin and SpaceX additional work’.

It’s planning for ‘at least two’ delivery missions with large cargo. 

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NASA hopes to send humans to the Moon for the first time in 50 years

Officially established in 2017, the Artemis campaign aims to send humans to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. 

NASA has previously revealed a lunar racer car that’ll transport astronauts to uncharted destinations on the Moon. 

And launched a new challenge with a $3 million prize pot for anyone who can come up with smart solutions to improve the sustainability of longer-term lunar missions.

In an update this week, NASA revealed that it is tasking Elon Musk’s SpaceX with delivering a pressurized rover, which is currently in development by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), no earlier than 2032. 

Meanwhile, Blue Origin, which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has been instructed to deliver a ‘lunar surface habitat’ no sooner than 2033. Exciting stuff. 

“NASA is planning for both crewed missions and future services missions to the Moon beyond Artemis V,” Moon to Mars Program Office’s Stephen D. Creech said.

“Having two lunar lander providers with different approaches for crew and cargo landing capability provides mission flexibility while ensuring a regular cadence of Moon landings for continued discovery and scientific opportunity.”

SpaceX and Blue Origin are working closely with the US space agency

Earlier this year, NASA announced it had contracted SpaceX and Blue Origin to develop cargo versions of their human lunar landers. 

In a press release at the time, the agency said these cargo landers will be expected to land around 26,000 – 33,000 pounds (12 to 15 metric tons) of payload on the lunar surface.

“It’s essential that NASA has the capability to land not just astronauts, but large pieces of equipment, such as pressurized rovers, on the Moon for maximum return on science and exploration activities,” NASA’s Lisa Watson-Morgan said.

“Beginning this work now allows SpaceX and Blue Origin to leverage their respective human lander designs to provide cargo variants that NASA will need in the future.”

NASA says the Artemis missions will allow astronauts to explore more of the moon than ever before, as well as helping to prepare for future human missions to Mars.