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Posted on 05/02/2021 1:15:26 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
NASA has suspended work on SpaceX’s new $2.9 billion lunar lander contract while a federal watchdog agency adjudicates two protests over the award, the agency said Friday... Elon Musk's SpaceX was picked by NASA on April 16th to build the agency's first human lunar lander since the Apollo program, as the agency opted to rely on just one company for a high-profile contract that many in the space industry expected to go to two companies... SpaceX’s private Starship development will likely continue.
A digital illustration of SpaceX's Starship lunar lander sitting on the Moon's surface, as proposed to NASA under its Artemis program. Image: SpaceX
(Excerpt) Read more at theverge.com ...
What I found, but not surprised by, is the other “competitors” for the bid, could not meet all of the requirements, yet when they didn’t get the contract, would protest. You are right, unfortunately the government allows for the losers to cry about unfairness. In the end, it is usually awarded to the first winner because they fulfilled the requirements.
Blue Origin is supposed to start selling tickets for New Shephard soon. I hope that goes well. New Glenn though almost seems like a scam. They’ve taken forever on it and still no test flights at all.
If not Monday, it will be Tuesday. Yep, one Raptor engine had to be replaced after last scrub.
Whenever we get back to the Moon the first thing we should do is give Alice Kramden a decent Burial.
Would have to be both lightweight and ultra reliable. Of course we have that 1/6th Gee going in our favor.
The marker should mention #metoo. /rimshot
Heh... although it would be heh heh if width=500. ;^)
It looks like it's the beginning of the end of Elon's taxpayer funded Ponzi scheme.
The major auto manufacturers are building electric cars (no body wants) that Tesla can't compete with and now this.
Hey Elon, does the name Solyndra ring a bell?
Yesterday China's Long March 5 carried the first module of their space station into orbit, a 20 ton module derived from the Russian DOS designs, which will be the core of a much larger 60 ton orbital facility able to host astronauts for months at a time.
China's ISS Competitor Begins Construction In Orbit | Scott Manley | Apr 29, 2021
No, no, no, no, and no. Troll elsewhere.
LOL
You are absolutely right! If SpaceX just redesigns out those unnecessary items, like fuel tanks, then the living spaces will be virtual walk-outs!
Technical breakthrough! Huzzah!
The old Grumman lunar module had a much lower height. Not suggesting that we go back to that, only that SpaceX is married to this vertical landing system which hasn’t yet been done with astronauts. Just saying...
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