SpaceX was granted a second crewed landing demonstration mission option by NASA, slated for 2027 in the Artemis IV mission, according to a press release from the space agency.
After the news was announced on Tuesday, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk responded by saying it was “much appreciated,” also adding that “SpaceX will not let NASA down!”
Much appreciated, SpaceX will not let NASA down!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 15, 2022
The awarded launch is considered Option B, following an award to SpaceX which took place in July 2021. The current contract modification is valued at about $1.15 billion, and will oversee the development of a Starship lunar lander meeting NASA’s requirements for missions beyond Artemis III.
“Returning astronauts to the Moon to learn, live, and work is a bold endeavor. With multiple planned landers, from SpaceX and future partners, NASA will be better positioned to accomplish the missions of tomorrow: conducting more science on the surface of the Moon than ever before and preparing for crewed missions to Mars,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said.
The additions are set to include docking with Gateway using four crew members and increased payload targets for the surface of the moon.
On early Wednesday morning, NASA finally launched Artemis I to the moon.
We are going.
For the first time, the @NASA_SLS rocket and @NASA_Orion fly together. #Artemis I begins a new chapter in human lunar exploration. pic.twitter.com/vmC64Qgft9
— NASA (@NASA) November 16, 2022
New views of planet Earth from @NASA_Orion as #Artemis I journeys to the Moon. Orion is 9.5 hours into a 25.5-day test flight. pic.twitter.com/CBaA4ZOK4X
— NASA (@NASA) November 16, 2022
NASA awarded SpaceX another contract option for the Artemis program in March, set to take place in April 2025.
