These landers, which are based on the designs of current human lunar landers, will enable the delivery of up to 33,000 pounds (15 metric tons) of cargo, supporting extended scientific activities and the establishment of a sustainable presence on the Moon. The development of these cargo landers is slated to begin operations as part of the Artemis VII mission and beyond.
"The capability to land large pieces of equipment such as pressurized rovers is critical for maximizing the return from our science and exploration activities on the Moon," said Lisa Watson-Morgan, Human Landing System Program Manager at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. "The early start on this project allows for a strategic use of existing designs tailored for cargo purposes."
SpaceX and Blue Origin are modifying their existing human lander systems, initially designed for Artemis III through V missions, to include features necessary for cargo delivery such as payload interfaces and deployment mechanisms, while omitting life support systems meant for crewed missions.
The progress on these landers is part of the broader Artemis initiative, which aims to expand lunar exploration and establish groundwork for future manned missions to Mars. This extensive program leverages international collaboration and industry partnerships to deploy an array of technologies including NASA's SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, next-generation spacesuits, and the Gateway lunar space station.
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