One of these companies could deliver American astronauts to the moon in 2024

By Cat HofackerApril 30, 2020

By cat hofacker - April 30, 2020

An illustration of Blue Origin's proposed Blue Moon lander.

Blue Origin, Dynetics and SpaceX will build landers to carry astronauts to the moon under NASA’s Artemis program, the agency said today. One of these Human Landing Systems will later be selected to carry astronauts to the surface on the first mission, scheduled for 2024. Boeing was not selected. Here are the awardees:

• Dynetics’ two-part lander. It will be launched in one piece on a ULA Vulcan.

• SpaceX’s one-stage lander, Starship. It will launched on a SpaceX Super Heavy rocket.

• Blue Origin’s three-part lander (opening illustration). The parts will be launched on a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket and a United Launch Alliance Vulcan in a combination that has not yet been specified. These launch vehicles are scheduled to make their first flights in 2021.

NASA did not immediately release dollar values.

About cat hofacker

As acting editor-in-chief, Cat guides our coverage, keeps production of the print magazine on schedule and edits all articles. She became associate editor in 2021 after two years as our staff reporter. Cat joined us in 2019 after covering the 2018 congressional midterm elections as an intern for USA Today.