Blue Origin Signs Teaming Agreements to Pursue NASA Human Landing System Dev't Program

Blue Origin has teamed up with three other companies to build and offer a delivery system for NASA’s mission to put astronauts on the moon by 2024.

Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company said Tuesday it will collaborate with Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) and Draper to create a Human Landing System in support of the Artemis program.

Bezos announced the collaboration at the 2019 International Astronautical Congress held in Washington, D.C.

Blue Origin will act as the industry team’s prime contractor and will provide the system’s descent element. The Kent, Wash.-based company noted it will oversee program management, mission and systems engineering, and safety and mission assurance efforts as part of the teaming agreements.

Northrop will develop the transfer element platform intended to move the system towards the moon, while Lockheed will produce an ascent vehicle and administer training and operational activities. Draper will facilitate descent and supply avionics to the team.

The alliance seeks to combine experience in space flight, launch vehicles, planetary applications, deep space and orbital logistics in a bid to help NASA address manned lunar program goals.

œWe 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,” said Rick Ambrose, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin’s space segment.

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