Blue Origin and Partners Awarded NASA Contract for Lunar Development
Blue Origin, in partnership with Lockheed Martin, Draper, Boeing, Astrobotic, and Honeybee Robotics, has been awarded a NextSTEP-2 Appendix P Sustaining Lunar Development (SLD) contract by NASA. The contract will see the development and flight of a lunar lander capable of making precision landings anywhere on the Moon’s surface, as well as a cislunar transporter. Both vehicles will be powered by LOX-LH2, a high-specific impulse propellant that provides a significant advantage for deep space missions.
Despite its advantages, LOX-LH2 has not been used for deep space missions due to the problematic boil-off of the propellant during long mission timelines. Under the SLD contract, Blue Origin and its partners will develop and fly solar-powered 20-degree Kelvin cryocoolers and other technologies required to prevent LOX-LH2 boil-off, making it a storable propellant combination.
The development of storable LH2 will have significant benefits for future missions beyond the Moon, as well as enabling capabilities such as high-performance nuclear thermal propulsion. Blue Origin’s architecture also prepares for the future use of lunar ice to manufacture LOX and LH2 propellants on the Moon.
Blue Origin and its partners are already hard at work on the project and are excited to be embarking on this journey with NASA.
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