Blue Origin · SpaceX · Artemis Program · Ars Technica
NASA is looking at “block acquires” for the next series of commercial missions to the Moon
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These privately owned landers and orbiters, part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, carry NASA-owned payloads.
Key facts
- NASA launched 11 Discovery-class planetary science missions in the first 15 years of the program, from 1996 through 2011
- The space agency’s science budget this year is $7.25 billion, roughly the same as it was in 2000, adjusted for inflation
- His challenge is he wants 10 $100 million missions to be flying
- SpaceX charges commercial customers $74 million for a dedicated Falcon 9 launch, although NASA typically pays more for additional oversight, schedule priority, and other government requirements
Summary
There are more opportunities to access space than ever, thanks to a bevy of commercial rockets, some with reusable boosters, led by SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9. The answer is complex. In the early months of his tenure, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman’s focus has been on human spaceflight and the Moon. On the robotic front, Isaacman is pushing for NASA to launch a first-of-its-kind nuclear-powered spacecraft in 2028 to deliver a trio of drone rotorcraft to explore Mars. “Mr. Isaacman is keen on us doing things quicker and for less,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s science mission directorate. His challenge is he wants 10 $100 million missions to be flying.”