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Both E. Muska’s SpaceX and J. Bezos’ Blue Origin are creating spacecraft to land on the surface of the Moon. However, the two NASA companies made two completely different proposals. SpaceX plans to use the giant Starship spacecraft and the spacecraft system it is currently developing, which E. Muskas hopes to colonize Mars one day. Blue Origin has come up with a simpler plan to build a lunar landing machine similar to those used on NASA’s Apollo missions in the mid-20th century, CNN reports.
But the drama accelerated when the United States Congress appropriated about $ 2 billion. less than requested, so the space agency decided to choose only one of them. Since then, Blue Origin has been fighting this decision, creating a public and sometimes petty battle between the companies.
Scanpix / AP Photo / This is how SpaceX engineers imagine landing on the Moon.
CNN explains what happened, why it matters, and what to expect.
America’s approach to space exploration is at a tipping point. NASA’s Artemis program aims to get two people to the Moon in 2024, including the first woman and a white man. The goal is to create a permanent base on the moon. Like the Artemis program, the struggle of the two richest people is another reflection of the present.
AFP / “Scanpix” nuotr./NASA
Last April, NASA signed three contracts with SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Dynetics of Alabama to begin developing its moon landing equipment. The space agency planned to sign final contracts with two of them, but despite NASA’s efforts, Congress decided to allocate less than a billion when the organization requested $ 3.2 billion. AMERICAN DOLLAR.
When it came time to sign the deal, Dynetics made a $ 9 billion offer and Blue Origin made a $ 6 billion offer. Both were rejected in favor of SpaceX’s $ 3 billion offer. And after the budget cuts, NASA decided to go ahead with the SpaceX project.
Blue Origin immediately filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Oversight and Audit Group, saying that NASA should have reopened the tender as soon as it learned that it did not have enough money to fund various contracts. NASA is said to have preferred SpaceX and unfair discretion.
Scanpix / AP Photo / Jeff Bezos presents Blue Origin plans
Such writings are quite common in the world of global government contracts, and Blue Origin’s accusations have been rejected. SpaceX’s offering is said to be not only cheaper, but also more advanced in terms of program management and technology.
Besos himself chimed in by sending an open letter to NASA chief Bill Nelson, saying he would give up $ 2 billion. Development costs in US dollars to keep Blue Origin competitive with SpaceX.
“Without competition, prone to short lead times, NASA will face limited opportunities to negotiate missed deadlines, design changes and cost overruns. Without competition, NASA’s short-term and long-term ambitions will be delayed, which will ultimately cost more and will not be in the national interest, “Bezez said in a letter.
These requests were not answered and Blue Origin filed an action before the Federal Court of Appeals. At the same time, public relations campaigns began. Blue Origin has released an infographic that attempts to present SpaceX’s plans as extremely complex and risky.
Reuters / Photo by Scanpix / J.Besos’ flight into space
Musk himself responded on Twitter that if “lobbying and lawyers could reach orbit, Bezos would be on Pluto [dabar]”
And what’s next? A federal judge must file a response from Blue Origin by October 12. So far, NASA has responded to review the details of the case and intends to provide an update on the Artemis program shortly.
Many space enthusiasts are dragging Bezes and Blue Origin through the mud at the moment. Industry observers have warned that an unfounded lawsuit could slow down SpaceX’s operations and ultimately delay the moon landing. Others point out that Blue Origin’s protests over the deal contradict Bezes’s own comments in 2019.
However, many experts doubt that NASA can meet the 2024 deadline, regardless of whether the Blue Origin lawsuit is successful. The single contractor principle can make a project more market sensitive.
It’s true that NASA itself questions the term 2024. A new report from the agency’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) claims that due to the expected delay in the development of spacesuits, NASA’s human landing on the Moon is “impossible” by the agency deadline.
Mission “Reuters” / “Scanpix” nuotr./ “Apollo 12”
But Lori Garver, a former NASA deputy administrator and a key player in promoting commercial contracts, said CNN disagreed with Blue Origin’s argument that having a single contractor would make the program uncompetitive.
“I’m not sure there is a market for a lunar landing machine in the near future,” she said, adding that NASA is currently the only obvious customer for such missions.
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