Then they should do it with their own money. I have as much achievement as blue origin. I built a rocket and launched it, the rocket didn't make it to orbit or space but that paper towel tube sure did go high. The government should give me a couple of billion dollars for a mission OR nasa should be doing things in house and not contracting with private for profit companies on the tax payers dime.

It's a relatively cheap launch with New Glenn being oversized for the mission. NASA gets a cheap launch and validate a launch provider while BO gets to boast about winning a NASA mission.

Lots of people on here that never read the article and just spewing opinions and misinformation.

The contract they got is to simply launch the ESCAPADE mission through a new program NASA has to basically make these new rocket test launches also have things on top the rocket. ESCAPADE is a cheap small sat mission through NASA’s SIMPLEx program, which are $50 million missions with a single science goal.

ESCAPADE will be the thing studying Mars, and they have a whole team that has nothing to do with BO. They were selected years ago through NASA (just as nasa selects other robotic missions through competitive calls). They’ve been waiting for a lunch provider and this program (which specifically is higher risk but that is ok with cheaper missions) gives them the launch provider they need.

THAT’S IT. Sometimes reading the articles and not just the headlines is helpful

Why would they start building a full Artemis mockup when the generic Starship upper stage hasn't been finalised yet? That makes absolutely zero sense, at the very least they need to achieve orbit and confirm their design works before building a moon lander. You have to walk before you can run.

There's lots of publicly accessible information on the subject, SpaceX in particularly has also paid Russia for access to Soviet rocketry, and most importantly they hire personnel from existing rocket programs who are experienced in their field.

We saw the booster fire up 31 engines yesterday. We have been looking at the landing stage for three+ years. They are bending metal at Boca Chica. Sure there is work to be done but nobody is sitting on their hands. Not sure what people expect. Insta-rocket?

I think SpaceX has lots of time to get that working, since Artemis is insanely behind schedule anyway.

Further, that's a different kind of contract. NASA is paying to have something built that has never been done before. If SpaceX doesn't hit milestones in that contract, they don't get paid. They both know that.

Even further, SpaceX underbid that contract to win it. They're using some of their own money to build it, knowing they will use the tech themselves down the road.

It's even worse than that, not only have they not gotten to orbit, they've never even tried to get to orbit. They've never built anything that was even capable of trying for orbit, and right now they don't have anything that launches at all.

Those that have the resources and can serve their own interests, rather than the interests of the masses, are how things are going to get done. Like it or not, the US government had gave up on space exploration before billionaires started showing interest.

The same NASA that contracted with SpaceX for the yet to be seen Moon Landing System for Artemis.

Because they’re private companies, not having to deal with all the government bs really speeds things up. People with money really like making more money

Just wondering, do companies like SpaceX and blue origin get confidential data and knowledge and technology transfers from NASA for these things so that they can catch up quickly and work on the next ground breaking thing? I mean how can companies just created 10-15 years ago gain so much groundwork within few years and becoming top players in the field? Considering NASA or roscosmos took decades.

They must have confidence that the New Glen will be ready in time. Blue must have shared some information with them that NASA has verified.

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Shouldn't they at least be able to get to orbit, then maybe the moon before they get a Mars contract?

Not entirely sure how I feel about Blue Origin getting a contract like this with their current track record. I don’t like how space is becoming a playground for billionaires lately. But, if they push science forward, then in the end it’s a net win.

I’ll reserve judgment until the supposed launch date

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Happened a few hours ago and was successful! Well, mostly. 31/33 engines, and it went the full planned duration. I slept through it alas. I also hope to one day see a launch live.

Heres hoping for a successful run of it! Wish i could see it in person but still cool

Thanks that really helps

Yes this is true, people in space do lose bone density at a faster rate. I stumbled across this article after researching information about Osteoporosis. I too have family member who has it and had gotten numerous fractures over the last few years.

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You have no idea what you are talking about. SpaceX is looking to restrict Ukraine from using their terminals in guidance systems. THAT IS IT. They are restricting NOTHING ELSE.

If the US government likes use of the terminals in guidance systems then they can give SpaceX the OK to keep allowing that. It seems actually likely the US doesn't like it as NATO has been very careful about giving Ukraine weapons that allow them to attack Russia in its own territory.

Ukraine and NATO have different but very similar goals in this war. NATO's goals win out as they are the sole reason Ukraine is still able to fight. This sucks for Ukraine so they are being very creative in using what they do have to achieve their own goals.

Successful full-duration static fire. Elon indicates they "turned off 1 engine just before start & 1 stopped itself, so 31 engines fired overall. But still enough engines to reach orbit!" https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1623793909959901184?s=20

Saturn 5 took from 1960 to 1967 from start of real work to the first launch (amazing what 5% of the federal budget can do for you). Since Starship work was announced as starting in 2016, it seems it's not the fastest developed any more.