NASA Asks SpaceX And Blue Origin To Develop Wahana To Send Cargo To The Moon

Illustration of cargo delivery to the Moon (photo: dock. NASA)

JAKARTA NASA has given a new task to SpaceX and Blue Origin to advance the Artemis mission. Both companies are required to create landers that can carry cargo to the surface of the Moon.

This task development plan was revealed directly by NASA. The US space agency said it had asked SpaceX and Blue Origin to finalize the design of a large cargo landing vehicle that could deliver exploration equipment.

"NASA intends to provide Blue Origin and SpaceX with additional work based on their current contracts to develop lander rides that will deliver large equipment and infrastructure to the lunar surface," NASA said.

If the cargo landing vehicle has been developed, NASA will carry out at least two large cargo delivery missions. The hope is that Starship could be a cargo vehicle to deliver pressure exploration instruments to the Moon.

Currently, the exploration tool is being developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). After completion, the vehicle will be delivered to the US and launched before the 2032 fiscal year.

NASA explained that this pressure exploration vehicle will support the Artemis VII mission and subsequent missions. Meanwhile, Blue Origin will send habitat models as supporting infrastructure on the Moon before the 2033 fiscal year.

"SpaceX will continue to develop cargo lander rides and prepare Starship cargo missions based on Option B of the NextSTEP Attachment H contract. Blue Origin will carry out cargo lander rides and demonstration missions based on the P NextSTEP Attachment," NASA said.