""The taxpayers are making a very big investment to both SpaceX and Blue Origin's Human Landing System (HLS) capability. I would also appreciate that both those companies are investing well in excess of that, as well.""
""It's that capability that allows us not just to get back to the Moon, but really build the Moon base, put lots of mass, sufficiently and affordably, on the surface, not to mention every other application that comes from a rocket that you don't have to throw away.""
""There are steep challenges in getting Starship and Blue Moon ready for a human spaceflight mission. For a similar test on Artemis III, Starship or Blue Moon would require an advanced, independent life support system, human-rated engines, a cockpit and flight controls, and a docking mechanism.""
SpaceX and Blue Origin are tasked with developing human-rated landers for NASA's Artemis missions, aiming for a late 2027 rendezvous and interoperability tests. Both companies have multibillion-dollar contracts and need to refuel their vehicles in space for lunar missions. Isaacman emphasized the significant taxpayer investment and the companies' additional investments. The larger landers, Starship and Blue Moon, could facilitate multiple lunar trips and support a Moon base. However, challenges remain in preparing these systems for human spaceflight, including advanced life support and docking mechanisms.
Read at Ars Technica
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