NASA to pull an IKEA by dropping tons of plastic, metal, and glass on the Moon

NASA aims to resume crewed Moon landings within three years and use Artemis missions to help assemble foundations for a permanent lunar outpost. The Moon Base initiative could involve up to 25 missions between now and 2029, including 21 lunar landings that deliver about four metric tons of cargo and provide transportation systems for astronauts. NASA awarded contracts to Blue Origin, Astrolab, Lunar Outpost, and Firefly Aerospace for cargo lander missions, two lunar terrain vehicles, and a carrier spacecraft for robotic MoonFall drones. The program supports a long-term goal of a permanent American lunar presence and a lunar economy financed by corporations rather than public funds. Blue Origin will deliver lunar terrain vehicles to the South Pole using its Mark 1 lander, with Moon Base I targeting science payload delivery to the Shackleton Connecting Ridge no earlier than fall 2026.

"Between now and 2029, NASA says its Moon Base initiative could involve up to 25 missions, including 21 lunar landings, delivering about four metric tons of cargo to the surface along with the first transportation systems for astronauts."

"NASA on Tuesday announced contracts with four companies to build and deliver hardware for the agency's planned Moon Base program, the first major procurement update since it outlined the strategy earlier this year. The awards went to Blue Origin, Astrolab, Lunar Outpost, and Firefly Aerospace."

"The contracts cover cargo lander missions, two lunar terrain vehicles, and a carrier spacecraft for a set of robotic MoonFall drones under development at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory."

""We can't force a lunar economy into existence. I suspect in the years, decades ahead as we build and operate what's hopefully multiple lunar outposts that we will uncover something along the way," Isaacman said. "This is a step in the right direction.""

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