Seattle: Renewed, billionaire businessman on his journey to space Jeff Bezos Monday offered to cover up to $2 billion NASA cost if the US space agency awards their company blue original A contract to build a spacecraft designed to return astronauts to the Moon.
NASA Honors Rival Billionaire Entrepreneur in April Elon MuskK SpaceX signed a $2.9 billion contract to build a spacecraft to bring astronauts to the lunar surface by 2024, rejecting bids from Blue Origin and defense contractor Dianetics. partnered with Blue Origin Lockheed Martin Corp.handjob Northrop Grumman Corp. And in the Draper quote.
The space agency cited a lack of its own funding, SpaceX’s proven record of orbital missions, and other factors in the contract’s decision, which senior NASA official Kathy Leiders called “what is the best value to the government.”
In a letter to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Bezos said Blue Origin would waive the government’s payments of up to $2 billion in the current fiscal year and the next one, and an orbital mission to test its technology. will pay for. In return, Blue Origin will accept a firm, fixed-price contract, and cover any system development costs, Bezos said.
“NASA shifted from its original dual-source acquisition strategy due to near-term budgetary issues, and this proposal removes that obstacle,” Bezos wrote.
“Without competition, NASA’s short- and long-term lunar ambitions will be delayed, ultimately cost more, and will not serve the national interest,” Bezos said.
NASA and SpaceX did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Before choosing SpaceX, NASA had sought proposals for a spacecraft that would take astronauts to the lunar surface as part of its Artemis program to bring humans back to the Moon for the first time since 1972. Blue Origin’s lunar lander is called “Blue Moon”. According to Forbes, Bezos and Musk are the first and third richest people in the world respectively.
Bezos’ offer comes six days after flying to the edge of space with three crewmates aboard Blue Origin’s rocket-and-capsule new shepard, a milestone for the company’s bid to become a major player in the emerging space tourism market.
After losing to SpaceX, Blue Origin filed a protest with the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), accusing NASA of giving SpaceX an unfair advantage by allowing it to revise its pricing. The GAO’s decision is expected in early August, although industry sources saw a turnaround as unlikely.
NASA Honors Rival Billionaire Entrepreneur in April Elon MuskK SpaceX signed a $2.9 billion contract to build a spacecraft to bring astronauts to the lunar surface by 2024, rejecting bids from Blue Origin and defense contractor Dianetics. partnered with Blue Origin Lockheed Martin Corp.handjob Northrop Grumman Corp. And in the Draper quote.
The space agency cited a lack of its own funding, SpaceX’s proven record of orbital missions, and other factors in the contract’s decision, which senior NASA official Kathy Leiders called “what is the best value to the government.”
In a letter to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Bezos said Blue Origin would waive the government’s payments of up to $2 billion in the current fiscal year and the next one, and an orbital mission to test its technology. will pay for. In return, Blue Origin will accept a firm, fixed-price contract, and cover any system development costs, Bezos said.
“NASA shifted from its original dual-source acquisition strategy due to near-term budgetary issues, and this proposal removes that obstacle,” Bezos wrote.
“Without competition, NASA’s short- and long-term lunar ambitions will be delayed, ultimately cost more, and will not serve the national interest,” Bezos said.
NASA and SpaceX did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Before choosing SpaceX, NASA had sought proposals for a spacecraft that would take astronauts to the lunar surface as part of its Artemis program to bring humans back to the Moon for the first time since 1972. Blue Origin’s lunar lander is called “Blue Moon”. According to Forbes, Bezos and Musk are the first and third richest people in the world respectively.
Bezos’ offer comes six days after flying to the edge of space with three crewmates aboard Blue Origin’s rocket-and-capsule new shepard, a milestone for the company’s bid to become a major player in the emerging space tourism market.
After losing to SpaceX, Blue Origin filed a protest with the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), accusing NASA of giving SpaceX an unfair advantage by allowing it to revise its pricing. The GAO’s decision is expected in early August, although industry sources saw a turnaround as unlikely.
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