"The award does not directly imply a delivery agreement; first, NASA will verify whether Blue Origin is capable of successfully sending the expensive VIPER rover to the moon's south pole. To be eligible to take on the VIPER delivery, the company must place its Blue Moon MK1 lunar lander-complete with a NASA technology payload-on the lunar surface by the end of 2025."
"On the same day as NASA announced the award, Blue Origin wrote on X: "Our second Blue Moon MK1 lander is already in production and well-suited to support the VIPER rover. Building on the learnings from our first MK1 lander, this mission is important for future lunar permanence and will teach us about the origin and distribution of water on the Moon.""
NASA awarded Blue Origin a $190 million CLPS task order to design a delivery plan and hold an option to deliver the VIPER rover. NASA will verify Blue Origin's capability and require the Blue Moon MK1 lander to reach the lunar surface by the end of 2025 to qualify for VIPER delivery. Blue Origin won a 2023 cargo contract and developed Blue Moon MK1, carrying NASA stereo cameras and small laser tracking spheres. NASA will decide on the rover delivery option after the base task and the first MK1 flight. VIPER is designed to search the lunar south pole for ice and resources; it measures about 2.5 meters tall and nearly 500 kilograms.
Read at WIRED
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