Blue Origin leads consortium of space stalwarts to develop Human Landing System
Blue Origin founder, Jeff Bezos, announces the company’s partnership with Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Draper to develop a Human Landing System for the Artemis program at the 70th International Astronautical Congress in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: Blue Origin
Although the company has yet to launch a single human into suborbital space, much less into orbit, Blue Origin plans to be a key player in NASA’s return to the Moon. At present, it’s unclear if a recent announcement will join others in the lunar regolith or ignite a new era of human lunar exploration.
In a speech at the 70th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), company founder Jeff Bezos announced that Blue Origin was teaming with spaceflight veterans Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, and avionics and guidance expert Draper, to develop the human landing system for NASA‘s Artemis program.
Speaking on-stage at the event on October 22, 2019, Bezos announced they would act as prime contractor for the project — including leading program management, safety and mission assurance, and mission and systems engineering — and providing the Blue Moon-based Descent Element.
Lockheed Martin will be charged with developing the reusable Ascent Element, and will lead training and crewed operations. “Lockheed Martin has been honored to help NASA explore space for more than 50 years, providing deep space robotic missions, planetary landers, space shuttle heritage and the Orion exploration spacecraft,” noted Lockheed Martin Space executive vice president Rick Ambrose, in a joint release. “We value Blue Origin’s thoughtful approach to developing human-rated flight systems, and are thrilled to be part of a national team with this mix of innovation and experience.”
Image Credit: Lockheed Martin
Partners Draper and Northrop Grumman are likewise steeped in spaceflight experience and expertise. Indeed, both played integral roles in the Apollo program and are eager to return return to the Moon.
Northrop Grumman’s corporate vice president and president of Innovation Systems, Blake Larson, noted that the company developed the Apollo lunar lander and looks forward to providing the Transfer Element — based on the company’s Cygnus spacecraft — that will shuttle the lander from the lunar Gateway to a low lunar orbit.
Draper President and CEO, Kaigham J. Gabriel, was no less enthusiastic about the partnership. “When the nation needs precision guidance, it calls on Draper,” stated Gabriel in the release. “We guided Apollo to the moon and back nearly 50 years ago. We’re ready to do it again with the Blue Origin team for Artemis.”
Though Lockheed Martin and Blue Origin had both made prior mentions about developing plans for their own landers, the companies decided it made more sense to develop the proposal as a team.
“National challenges call for a national response. We are humbled and inspired to lead this deeply committed team that will land NASA astronauts on the Moon,” concluded Bob Smith, CEO, Blue Origin, in the release. “Combining our partners’ heritage with our advance work on the Blue Moon lunar lander and its BE-7 engine, our team is looking forward to working with NASA in support of the Artemis program.”
Curt Godwin
Curt Godwin has been a fan of space exploration for as long as he can remember, keeping his eyes to the skies from an early age. Initially majoring in Nuclear Engineering, Curt later decided that computers would be a more interesting - and safer - career field. He's worked in education technology for more than 20 years, and has been published in industry and peer journals, and is a respected authority on wireless network engineering. Throughout this period of his life, he maintained his love for all things space and has written about his experiences at a variety of NASA events, both on his personal blog and as a freelance media representative.
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