NASA: The Artemis lunar program takes shape and is confirmed

The Trump Government's aspiration to see the United States return to the moon as soon as possible has just taken a step further. 

NASA has indeed published a series of documents for manufacturers in the aerospace sector. The US space agency details the many criteria that will have to meet the future prototypes of the lunar landers.

Cape on the Moon

After commemorating the 50 th anniversary of the first steps on the moon, and the 20th anniversary of Chandra, NASA announced that the Orion capsule was ready and would begin soon preparing for his historic first flight.

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The Orion capsule is ready to be sent to the Moon

However, the famous space agency has not only revealed this news about the Orion capsule, nor presented the provisional calendar of the three Artemis missions that will be the first attempt to return to the moon since 1972. Concomitant with this announcement, NASA has indeed detailed the many criteria that the actors of the aerospace sector should follow in designing their project. 

In its press release issued on the anniversary of Apollo 11, NASA says it wants to apply for US companies to allow the first woman and the next man to tread the surface of the Moon by 2024. 

Several private partners had previously been selected. We find of course in the list Lockheed Martin (already at the origin of the capsule Orion) but also names like those of Boeing, SpaceX, or Blue Origin, whose concept of the lunar lander, named Blue Moon has already been presented by Jeff Bezos.

A return to the moon in three stages

NASA explains that its system to return to the moon should ideally consist of three steps. The agency plans to implement a simplified system, consisting of a module orbiting the Moon, the famous "  Gateway  ", and a vehicle descent and ascent to bring the astronauts on the orbital station. Subsequently, the astronauts will return to Earth thanks to the Orion capsule. Despite this planning, NASA says it is "  interested in other approaches that can achieve the same long-term goals  ." 

So, for the moment, NASA is waiting for comments and proposals from different companies. This solicitation is open to all and the agency should select a project within several months. 

In the meantime, public/private partnerships are increasing for NASA, and it's lunar (and Martian ) ambitions are confirmed. Only the SLS launcher still seems to be able to delay Americans to return to the moon.