The independent agency of the U.S. federal government, National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA ) has chosen SpaceX an American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company to land NASA astronauts in moon for $2.89 billion.
The agency’s powerful Space Launch System rocket will launch four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft for their multi-day journey to lunar orbit.
There, two crew members will transfer to the SpaceX human landing system (HLS) for the final leg of their journey to the surface of the Moon.
After approximately a week exploring the surface, they will board the lander for their short trip back to orbit where they will return to Orion and their colleagues before heading back to Earth.
The associate administrator for Human Explorations and Operations Mission Directorate of NASA, Kathy Lueders, said:
“With this award, NASA and our partners will complete the first crewed demonstration mission to the surface of the Moon in the 21st century as the agency takes a step forward for women’s equality and long-term deep space exploration,”
“This critical step puts humanity on a path to sustainable lunar exploration and keeps our eyes on missions farther into the solar system, including Mars.”
During HLS base period of performance, Space X had been working closely with NASA experts to ensure NASA’s performance requirements and human spaceflight standards are met.
The program manager of HLS at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, Lisa Watson-Morgan, said:
“This is an exciting time for NASA and especially the Artemis team, During the Apollo program, we proved that it is possible to do the seemingly impossible: land humans on the Moon,”
“By taking a collaborative approach in working with industry while leveraging NASA’s proven technical expertise and capabilities, we will return American astronauts to the Moon’s surface once again, this time to explore new areas for longer periods of time.”
