NASA’s Artemis mission, which is set to launch in the coming years, including Artemis 5 at the end of the decade, is facing a delay in the awarding of its lunar rover contract. The space agency’s initial plan to announce the contractor for building the lunar rover later this year has been pushed back to 2024.
According to the update on NASA’s procurement website for the Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services (LTVS) contract, the contract award date has been changed from November 2023 to March 31, 2024, resulting in a four-month delay. The deadline for proposals was extended to July 26, with several companies expressing their interest, including Leidos, Lockheed Martin, Teledyne Brown, Astrolab, and Intuitive Machines.
The reason for the delay, as stated by a NASA spokesperson, is the agency’s need for more time to evaluate the proposals. However, industry sources believe that the uncertainty over NASA’s budget for fiscal year 2024 may also be a factor. The delay could provide NASA with a clearer picture of the funding available for the project and whether multiple contracts can be awarded.
The search for a contractor to design the lunar rover for the Artemis mission began in 2020. Initially, NASA reached out to car manufacturers for their expertise. Many companies are actively working on designs and prototypes to fulfill NASA’s requirements for the Lunar Terrain Vehicle. Private missions to the moon are also being pursued by startups, such as Lunar Outpost, which recently secured a $12 million investment for its lunar rover development.
While various companies have presented their designs, the final selection from NASA has yet to be made. The announcement of the contract winner, initially expected in November, is now scheduled for the first quarter of 2024. No specific reasons for the delay have been provided.
Overall, the delay in awarding the lunar rover contract for NASA’s Artemis mission reflects the agency’s need for additional evaluation time and possible budget considerations. The selection of the contractor will play a crucial role in providing transportation for astronauts during the mission.
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