NASA is moving closer to a June launch of unmanned Artemis 1, the first rocket to fly in the agency’s program intended to send humans back to the moon and beyond.

At a recent during a teleconference, NASA announced plans to create additional opportunities for commercial companies to develop an astronaut Moon lander.

The agency is seeking lander concepts capable of ferrying astronauts between lunar orbit and the lunar surface for missions beyond Artemis III. That vehicle will land men, and this time women, on the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

The Moon is seen rising behind NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard atop a mobile launcher as it rolls out to Launch Complex 39B for the first time, Thursday, March 17, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Ahead of NASA’s Artemis I flight test, the fully stacked and integrated SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft will undergo a wet dress rehearsal at Launch Complex 39B to verify systems and practice countdown procedures for the first launch. Credits: NASA

“Under Artemis, NASA will carry out a series of groundbreaking missions on and around the Moon to prepare for the next giant leap for humanity: a crewed mission to Mars,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said. “Competition is critical to our success on the lunar surface and beyond, ensuring we have the capability to carry out a cadence of missions over the next decade.’’

The new landers will have the capability to dock to a lunar orbiting space station known as Gateway, increase crew capacity, and transport more science and technology to the surface. NASA will provide the requirements for the long-term vehicles .

“Thank you to the Biden Administration and Congress for their support of this new astronaut lander opportunity, which will ultimately strengthen and increase flexibility for Artemis,” Nelson said.

According to NASA, plans for the Artemis exploration program include landing the first woman and person of color on the Moon.

Lunar lander development and demonstration has two prongs: one calls for additional work under an existing contract with SpaceX, and a second is to open all other U.S. companies to provide a new landing demonstration mission from lunar orbit to the surface of the moon.

In a press release, NASA said it is now asking SpaceX to transform the company’s proposed human landing system into a spacecraft that meets the agency’s requirements for recurring services for a second demonstration mission. Pursuing more development work under the original contract maximizes NASA’s investment and partnership with SpaceX.

“This strategy expedites progress toward a long-term, sustaining lander capability as early as the 2026 or 2027 timeframe,” said Lisa Watson-Morgan, program manager for the Human Landing System Program at Marshall Space Flight Center. “We expect to have two companies safely carry astronauts in their landers to the surface of the Moon under NASA’s guidance before we ask for services, which could result in multiple experienced providers in the market.”

After the new draft solicitation is published, NASA will host a virtual industry day. Once comments and questions from the draft solicitation process have been reviewed, the agency plans to issue the formal request for proposals this summer.

Astronaut Moon landers are a vital part of NASA’s deep space exploration plans, along with the Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, ground systems, and Gateway. NASA is committed to using a commercial astronaut lunar lander to carry the astronauts to the surface of the Moon, expanding exploration and preparing humanity for the next giant leap, the human exploration of Mars.

Photo Credits: NASA