UNITED STATES: In an eagerly anticipated event, NASA is set to announce its selection for the company that will develop a sustainable human landing system for the Artemis V Moon mission. The announcement will take place at NASA Headquarters in Washington on Friday, May 19, at 10 a.m. EDT. This crucial decision will significantly advance NASA’s ambitious plans for lunar exploration and establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon.
The human landing system will transport astronauts to and from the Gateway in lunar orbit to the lunar surface, facilitating scientific research, exploration and inspiring future generations. As part of NASA’s broader Artemis program, this mission aims to return humans to the Moon, marking a historic milestone in space exploration.
During the announcement, key NASA personnel will be present, including NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Jim Free (Associate Administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate), and Lisa Watson-Morgan (Manager, Human Landing System Program at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama). The event will be broadcasted live on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website, ensuring worldwide access to this significant announcement.
NASA has been actively engaging with industry partners to develop innovative and technologically advanced lunar landers that meet the requirements of the Artemis Generation. The selected company, the second partner for the Artemis program, will be tasked with designing, developing, testing, and evaluating a human landing system.
This announcement comes in addition to NASA’s existing partnership with SpaceX, where the agency is already collaborating to develop landers for the Artemis III and Artemis IV missions. The addition of a second partner emphasizes NASA’s commitment to fostering collaboration and utilizing the expertise of multiple entities to achieve its lunar exploration goals.
Artemis holds significant historical significance, as NASA aims to send the first woman and the first person of color to the lunar surface. Moreover, this program sets the stage for long-term scientific discoveries and serves as a stepping stone for human missions to Mars.
The Artemis program is built upon NASA’s strong deep space exploration foundation, including the powerful Space Launch System rocket and the versatile Orion spacecraft. Together with the human landing system, next-generation spacesuits, and the lunar spaceship Gateway, these components will drive NASA’s vision of sustainable lunar development and pave the way for future endeavours in deep space exploration.
The selection of the second lunar lander partner for the Artemis Moon mission marks a crucial step forward in NASA’s journey to the Moon and beyond. As the world awaits this momentous decision, the future of lunar exploration takes shape, promising scientific discoveries, human achievements, and inspiration for future generations.
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