Blue Origin Just Revealed Its New Lunar Lander!

Earlier this year we got a first look at Blue Origin’s new lunar lander designed to transport Artemis astronauts to the Moon’s surface and back to orbit. Just yesterday the company revealed a full physical lander demonstrator named Mk1.
In addition, Blue Origin gave out quite a bit more info including the plans for this initial lander, how it evolves into Mk2 which is made specifically for Artemis, its operations on the Moon, and even some of the mission goals. At the same time, we are also hearing more about SpaceX’s Starship lunar lander and timeline concerns in particular, which NASA brought up before.
The agency is now looking at both companies and options to determine what will be complete and by when. Here I will go more in-depth into Blue Origin’s lunar lander progress, NASA’s schedule concern for both SpaceX and Blue Origin, the future plan, and more.
Full article here - thespacebucket.com/blue-origi...
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Credit:
SpaceX - / spacex
NASA - / @nasa
Blue Origin - / blueoriginchannel
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:43 - Blue Origin's Lunar Lander
3:44 - NASA's Timeline Concerns

[@censortube3778]

I have zero confidence in the idea of 'starship' as a lunar lander, glad someone is working on a real lunar lander

[@odysseusrex5908]

Given the severe restrictions on Starship's launch cadence, there is absolutely no way they can be ready for a landing in 2025, or '26. They will be lucky to do it by '28. Artemis 3 is going to have to fool around performing pointless tasks in the Gateway. The landing will be on Artemis 4, which will be no earlier than 2028, and could easily slip beyond that.

[@Adrian-qk2fn]

I would take what Jim Free said about SpaceX more seriously if they did not have to wait for the granting of Launch Licences from the FAA & other Regulatory bodies. SpaceX can't carry out the Flight Test Programme if they are having to wait months between each Launch for the Bureaucracy to catch up.

[@EinzigfreierName]

They already had a launch attempt and messed it up. No surprise that regulatory bodies are extra cautious this time.

[@iamaduckquack]

The fish people are involved this times due to the new water deluge. Once that is approved that shouldn't be a cause for delays going forward. If it was just the FAA involved I think things would happen faster. Long story short, barring any major issues, flights should come around more frequently as time goes on.

[@Adrian-qk2fn]

@@EinzigfreierName They were attempting to Launch a completely new vehicle for the first time. Take a look at how long it took to launch SLS and they are not going to attempt the second launch until December 2024- over two years after the first launch. Also it is the number of regulatory bodies that are involved every one of which has to sign off on a report before granting the Launch Licence. There was a proposal by the FAA in 2021 to streamline this process but two years later nothing has been done. Furthermore there is evidence that this type of over regulation can be found in other areas of the Government. One US Army General complained that he had to get approval from 64 different Offices & Departments for just one alteration on a Programme he was running; (a new helicopter engine for the US Army) Sure, Regulatory bodies HAVE to conduct investigations- it is only right- BUT they seem to move at a glacial pace inappropriate for the modern Launch environment where there are scores of Launches each year with the number growing. They are using procedures which were adopted when there would only be a handful of launches and none of them would be by Commercial Launch Providers. The FAA and the other Regulatory bodies have not yet adapted to the new reality of Commercial Spaceflight despite it being recognised by the FAA itself. As for time pressure, NASA cannot proceed at the current glacial pace it has been doing with Artemis. Whether people acknowledge it or not the US & their Allies are engaged in a Race to the Moon with China. As NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said at the start of 2023; “It is a fact: we’re in a space race,” the former Florida senator and astronaut said in an interview. “And it is true that we better watch out that they don’t get to a place on the moon under the guise of scientific research. And it is not beyond the realm of possibility that they say, ‘Keep out, we’re here, this is our territory.’”

[@Adrian-qk2fn]

@@iamaduckquack My comment was not to do with the Fish and Wildlife Agency who are carrying out the requisite investigation. Rather it was to do with what Senator Jim Free had said when he was, for all intents and purposes, attempting to lay all the blame on SpaceX for any possible delays in the Artemis III Mission. The Fish and Wildlife Agency and the FAA are exercising due diligence. However it must also be noted that- as recent testimony to Congress said- they do not have the requisite Manpower or Resources to cope with the rapidly evolving Commercial Launch Market.

[@jcwiggens]

They could have built a proper stage zero. Then none of this would be an issue. Blame SpaceX, not the FAA.

[@will2Collett]

Looking forward to BLUE ORIGIN launches. Sooner rather than later.

[@dissaid]

Thanks man...😎😎😎

[@absenttk4213]

I am really sick of hearing about NASA commenting on absolutely anyone else’s “timeline slip”. The level of hypocrisy in those statements are galling.

[@MichaelWinter-ss6lx]

Yah, worried about the time line, but: "Dont you dare launch such a big rocket at the cape". 🚀🏴‍☠️

[@brickinvesting]

Does anyone else thinl blue origin is getting too much nasa money for how little they have done?

[@mdjey2]

SpaceX is literally wasting taxpayer money.

[@plainText384]

It would be funny if the Blue Moon Mk1 lander lands on the moon before Starship HLS does.

[@Nowhereman10]

If it does, it does. If it doesn't, that's okay. Both need to succeed so we have dissimilar redundancy for lunar operations.

[@TheMusicHeals.kjhjhhg]

You have a better chance of finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow lol.

[@_mikolaj_]

It would be funny but at the same time sad. What's even sadder is the fact that with each passing day it looks more probable to happen lmao

[@smeeself]

Love your content, shame about your followers in the comment section.

[@expatxile]

Another amazing design that will never happen.

[@notsomadscientist9602]

That'll look great on top of their orbital class rocket! Oh wait.........😬😬😬

[@RidiculousRocketry]

Best paper mache lunar lander money can buy.

[@frugalfrog5091]

Would you be able to a comparison video of new glenn and falcon heavy? Also touch on the original design intent and its compition when NG project was started 10y ago... It is my understanding that starship is in a class above NG and NG will be irrelevant

[@dufkers]

Hey NASA I think you need to wait longer than 5 or 6 months after awarding the contract before blaming BO for Artemis delays. I’m sure you’ll get plenty of chances to talk about BO causing delays and using that to take the heat off SLS delays but this is too soon.

[@flopez425]

SpaceX is developing the worlds biggest & best rocket ever made in record time & they are complaining that it might not make it? Where was that energy during SLS development!?

[@davidstevenson9517]

NASA aren't complaining, they're warning; and not just SpaceX but the U.S. public as well. When govt. agencies such as NASA issue statments that are worded "might not", what they really mean is "will not". Artemis 3 as a crewed landing has almost been written off by NASA because of SpaceX delays and unrealistic timelines.

[@_mikolaj_]

NASA stated that they think starship wont meet deadline. Do you really have issue with NASA saying what they think? Or do you preffer them to lie to you that everything is fine? When SLS was being developed they were also saying many times that there are delays, there are no double standards here, you are seeking problems that dont exist stop coping.

[@CasaDelMesa]

"in record time"? Saturn V was orbital by this point in its development. Starship & NG started development 12 years ago. Maybe one of them will be orbital this year. But nothing is happening in record time. In fact, Starship is certifiably NOT going to be ready to land humans on the moon by late '25 as expected in the contract. Not even close, right?

[@Atipat12]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@mrzoinky5999]

The Lunar Lander should eventually look like the Eagle in Space 1999, ie: A Sikorsky Sky Crane type design where different modules (or a rover) can be slung underneath and dropped off at ground level as opposed to everybody else's designs which require an elevator or cranes to put supplies on the ground from a tall height.

[@expatxile]

The Eagle in Space 1999 is the perfect vehicle to go from an space station in Earth´s orbit to the Moon. Is modular, spacious, and has the landing gear for the Moon.

[@andrethib]

take two Dynetics Alpaca landers, put a space frame between them and an Orion capsule on the front, and bam -- Space 1999 Eagle

[@tepidtuna7450]

Couldn't agree more.

[@Nowhereman10]

@@andrethib The Eagle transporters had nuclear powered engines. Not happening.

[@mrzoinky5999]

@@andrethib Son of a .... you are right! :)

[@Atipat12]

COOL 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

[@TheMusicHeals.kjhjhhg]

Will be ready for 2035 maybe.

[@pauld6967]

Thanks for this update. Personally, I was rooting for the Dynetics design to be selected as the companion lander. Far more practical and no need for ridiculously long ladders or elevator platforms. I am also pulling for Dream Chaser to be successful and eventually become man-rated so it can be more than just a cargo hauler.

[@MrFranklitalien]

amen, + the alpaca was going to run on tried and tested hardware vs this bridge to nowhere

[@pakviroti3616]

Well, Dream Chaser is going to be waiting a long time. Since it went the wrong route with regard to their booster rocket choice. They should dump their current ride and opt for SpaceX.

[@Starshipsforever]

@@pakviroti3616 That's an outright lie. Dream Chaser isn't ready yet. In a few weeks it'll be sent to Ohio for testing in NASA's Neil Armstrong facility. Then, in a few months, if all goes well, it'll be sent down for processing at KSC, and since that's it's first launch flow, it'll be a while doing that.

[@Starshipsforever]

@@MrFranklitalien No, it wasn't. Nothing about it was "tried and true" and it was going to cost at least $9 billion.

[@thomasackerman5399]

The HLS Blue Moon does not have long ladders as the crew module is at the bottom of the spacecraft and so astronauts only need to walk up or down six foot stairs. ALPACA was horribly overweight and expensive, with Dynetics not wanting to foot much of the bill like SpaceX and Blue Origin were.

[@MichaelWinter-ss6lx]

The "Origine of Blue" have a very impressive list of fantastic space related applications. Even more impressive is that not one single item is yet available. When did they start? I think it was even before SpaceX. Thats over 20 years ? Great. Really fantastic. NASA should have gone with the "Alpacca" lander from Dynetics, for the first two landing missions. Its small, not really where they want the industrie to go. But it would still be usefull for later on and with a little funding, its much sooner available. Use Starship to land two astronauts on the moon. Absolutely brainless. The original moon mission by Werner vonBraun was supposed to be with 100 astronauts for a 6 week stay. That sounds like Starship. But 2? Poor guys, if they have to unload all the 100t payload that fit in. 🚀🏴‍☠️

[@luther0013]

Alpaca had major design problems that they didn’t get resolved by the time of the 2nd lander award. 2 astronauts on the landing is only for the crew demonstration landing. Afterwards they are to carry 4 astronauts on each lander.

[@RevMikeBlack]

Wow! Blue Origin is awesome! They have the best drawings and future plans in the space industry. Very realistic, almost like it's actually going to happen! Awesome, awesome, awesome!

[@jim6584]

They should get into the movie prop business.

[@paulmichaelfreedman8334]

Indeed! Incredible! Literally!

[@paulmichaelfreedman8334]

Will the drawings of the lander be launched on top of the drawings of New Glenn?

[@iamaduckquack]

​@@paulmichaelfreedman8334Drawings? You assume they've gone that far with their development.

[@paulmichaelfreedman8334]

@@iamaduckquack You're right, they have an idea, and they're going to launch that :P

[@jaybuie4457]

So BO built a clubhouse. That's so cute. Good for them.

[@simonignoblius8091]

Haven’t gotten anything into orbit yet but they’re talking about the moon.

[@adventureairinc7355]

so as Grumman did in 1969....

[@12pentaborane]

​@@adventureairinc7355 A lot of people forget that.

[@zmblion]

In 15yrs a test model might be done

[@pipersall6761]

Nice to see the latest Blue Origin money suck module.

[@paulmichaelfreedman8334]

Bezos is such an imbecile. Thee's a massive infrastructure on the moon to bbuilt, he should focus on that. Will make him billions, but he just HAS to fuck about with rockets and moon lander, and nothing to show for it. He has had nothing to show beside new shepherd, a space hopper - completely useless besides being a ridiculously expensive tourist attraction.

[@iamaduckquack]

It sucks more than my ex wife ever did.

[@mdjey2]

SpaceX sucks more.

[@LuciFeric137]

The modern era was mostly invented by 1946. Mankind peaked in 1969. Everything since is derivative.

[@marcmcreynolds2827]

Engineers like "derivative": Things with people in them still break, but less and less often. Air travel is more than an order of magnitude safer than in the beginning of the jet era precisely because it has become so derivative.

[@14rs2]

Blue origin is great at making mock ups and great cgi and rendered pictures. Shame they haven’t actually made anything other than that.

[@dufkers]

I do feel I have to correct you on a couple of points: the computer generated video that Blue Origin makes is mostly terrible. On the other hand they did make New Shepard and it definitely qualifies as a thing.

[@stevefink6000]

@@dufkers BO has been in business longer than spacex yet have put NOTHING into orbit. New Shepard is a neat thrill ride but hasnt flown in a year.

[@dufkers]

@@stevefink6000 let’s be fair to BO. New Shepard is not CGI or a mock up. When it isn’t exploding it does make sub orbital flights. Based on this history I feel confident that BO will successfully land on the moon before this century is over.

[@RevMikeBlack]

C'mon, man! They made that rocket that looks like a robot penis. You know... the one that crashes when it's overloaded with Blue Origin souvenirs and trinkets. Aren't you counting that?

[@smeeself]

Blue Origin and Space X have both achieved one product they aimed to make. That's it. Everything else is in production.

[@gabrielafolabi3327]

what credibility does blue origin have to make and operate complex daily mission execution which space x have with less than 2% incident and delay rate?

[@davidstevenson9517]

Blue Origin and their National Team partners, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, have credibility where it counts: NASA and the U.S. Congress. That's why they were awarded the 2nd Option Lunar Lander contract. When announcing the winner in May, Bill Nelson stated, "We want backup!"; he was inferring that NASA does NOT give SpaceX the credibility that others award them.

[@user-qg2lu6lt5b]

I would like them to explain why blue is so interested in the safety of their drawings. Which is the closest to the moon that they will ever get.

[@davidstevenson9517]

NASA doesn't share your pessimism and the U.S. space agency prefers to hedge their bets.🚀🌚💸

[@iamaduckquack]

See the thing with a lander is you actually need a rocket to launch it.

[@smeeself]

Really? Grumman didn't have a "rocket"

[@Starshipsforever]

Yes, but many spacecraft companies don't have a rocket.

[@iamaduckquack]

@@Starshipsforever Yes, but BO want to launch their potential moon lander on their own potential rocket.

[@smeeself]

​@@iamaduckquackDitto SpaceX

[@iamaduckquack]

@@smeeself They have a rocket. Multiple in fact.

[@ibreakstuff815]

They should try and get to orbit one day. Seems like they are all talk no action. SpaceX can teach them

[@MrGlenspace]

So far blue origin has done little. Drawings are great but a glorified six flags ride is all they have done so far.

[@TheMoneypresident]

Yeah, refueling is going to be a little difficult for them.

[@mick_hyde]

Balls of steel to land on the moon with that SpaceX rocket. 😏

[@dufkers]

Landing on the moon is going to be balls, or ovaries, of steel territory for a long time yet.

[@ygursivad9921]

More paper machines and cgi. Amazing that people talk as if the BO option is gonna happen ( nothing done at all) while they asking whether it is impossible for Starship. NUTS!!!

[@CasaDelMesa]

Actually my money would be on Blue Moon delivering astronauts to the moon and returning them safely to lunar orbit before Starship; probably by '30. You do know that Starship HLS is nothing but CGI right now. Right?

[@bioglassmusic]

get something into space first

[@dufkers]

Hey, the new Shepard does technically make it to space! It just doesn’t stay there very long and explodes from time to time and looks like… you know.

[@bioglassmusic]

@@dufkers when was the last launch?

[@dufkers]

@@bioglassmusic just over a year ago. And the booster exploded on that launch. I’m not saying BO is great. Just saying they have technically made it to space

[@bioglassmusic]

@@dufkers lol ya i'll give you that

[@Nowhereman10]

@@dufkers It actually didn't explode. The engine shut down safely after the burn through of the nozzle and the booster was allowed to crash and was recovered. The capsule safely flew away thanks to the LES and was recovered safe and sound after a parachute and thruster-assisted landing.

[@Papershields001]

I won’t be surprised if we don’t see boots on the moon until 28, maybe later or maybe cancelled.

[@davidstevenson9517]

Thanks, TSB, for the update on "Blue Moon" lunar lander. This image of BM Mk1 with Bil Nelson and Jim Free standing before it is a pointed reminder of why NASA awarded 2nd Option Lander contract. Awarded in May, Bill Nelson stated, "We want backup!" and recently Jim Free warned that the Artemis 3 may NOT be a crewed landing because of SpaceX delays. Good on you, NASA, for having the foresight not to rely on the promises of one provider (the U.S. Congress insisted, anyway).

[@jackturner3867]

This lander should have gone circumlunar already. Blue Origin needs to be sued into the DIRT!

[@marcmcreynolds2827]

SpaceX was way late with Crew Dragon. No one remembers those things once a system becomes operational.

[@RevMikeBlack]

​@@marcmcreynolds2827 SpaceX may have been a little late, but they were still the FIRST to get it done. Not Boeing. Not Bezos. SpaceX was the first to put Americans back into orbit on American ships.

[@nisenobody8273]

You could say the same about almost everything, space is hard.

[@dufkers]

I love picking on Blue Origin too but this is too much. They only won the contract for this 6 months ago. They aren’t late yet. Give BO a bit more time and I’m sure they demonstrate schedule slip to rival SLS.

[@MichaelWinter-ss6lx]

This was the contract that made "Sue Origin" their name. But Boeing, i thought was partnering on the space station, not the moon lander. 🚀🏴‍☠️

[@gustavlicht9620]

SpaceX is testing hardware. Blue Origin is testing PowerPoints. I would like to see more hardware from Blue Origin.

[@smeeself]

Both companies have built one of their stated aims.

[@thomashiggins9320]

I'd feel a lot better about Blue Origin's proposals if they'd actually have, y'know, *flight tests* . 😝

[@smeeself]

Why?

[@thomasackerman5399]

They have and will. Look up Goddard, Charon, PM2, and New Shepard. BE-4 is flying on Vulcan in less than two months.

[@pforce9]

Jeff Bezos has a job opening for a position as "Hat Manager". Whenever Elon Musk launches a space mission or sends another tourist mission into space for four days and Jeff hears about it, he takes off that big cowboy hat of his, throws it in the ground and stomps on it. The Hat Manager's job is to stand bay with several hats and hand him another cowboy hat.

[@Ingens_Scherz]

Amusing. By when exactly? 2123? I suppose Blue Origin might have actually figured out how to send stuff into orbit by then. Most likely not.

[@eddjordan2399]

the problem for blue origin is they haven't made anything yet that has flown to orbit. let alone the moon. the company is 23 years old.

[@Nowhereman10]

Grumman Aerospace never put anything into orbit when they built the Apollo LM. Today, neither Astrobotics nor Intuitive Machines have built any rockets that have flown to space much less orbit. So, why should that matter here?

[@gnichols5051]

Wow, this is the coolest lander that will never actually happen.

[@joeywilliams6842]

at this point, Jeff Bezos should ask Spacex for an empty starship, and allow blue origin to design the inside that's the only way blue origin will ever make it into orbit

[@DH-sw6vg]

Jeff Bezos: Blue Origin will be building our own space station and a lunar lander! Woo-hoo! Elon Musk: Riiiight, Jeff, but don't you think you should try getting _something_ into *_ORBIT_* first? _Anything,_ dude. A rocket, a satellite, maybe even an engine on someone else's rocket. Jeff: ......... crickets..........

[@babyUFO.]

They will go bankrupt.

[@davidstevenson9517]

Bankrupt? Recall Blue Origin is just one partner in the "Blue Moon" lunar lander consortium. National Team also include Boeing and Lockheed Martin (plus others); those two companies do not appear to be going bankrupt and both are nearly 100 years old. SpaceX on the other hand, well...this new company has a founder that is stretching his financial means and whose credibility is running out.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

What are they going to launch it on? Coke and mentos?

[@endofdays7568]

More vaperware BO will never reach orbit😂

[@MichaelWinter-ss6lx]

Eventually he will ! ... If he steps ontop all the paper he has generated. 🚀🏴‍☠️

[@thomasackerman5399]

Would you bet all your money, all you own, your pets, your wife, and your children on that?

[@TheMusicHeals.kjhjhhg]

And just Like New Glen it will be years late with all kinds of excuses as to why, with lots of crying not fair by Bezos.

[@mbj__]

Blue... Soon to be a 25yrs old Space(!) company, and not yet reached orbit 👏🤡

[@robotsix6268]

blue can't even fly yet.

[@pakviroti3616]

Ah...Blue Origin. More Bezos vaporware I see. Say, have they managed to get something to orbit yet? What's that you say...No? I see.

[@Nowhereman10]

Grumman never put anything into orbit before it built the LM for Apollo, no rockets, either. But they still built a lander. SpaceX cultists need to stop moving the goal posts. New Shepard flew to space and flew people years ago. BE-4 got delivered over a year ago to ULA and are being delivered now for Vulcan. The first flight pair will fly in December. So when will you stop moving the goal posts so that you can keep hating?

[@T_Mo271]

More stuff BO has built a cardboard model of.

[@Nowhereman10]

You need to tell Tory Bruno that those BE-4s on Vulcan are cardboard. Or the passengers that flew on New Shepard that was cardboard.

[@DaaSaa-lt3is]

Dont trust them

[@davidstevenson9517]

NASA aren't asking you.

[@markoreilly3414]

More CGI, Duct-Tape & Dry Wall, from BO, any one surprised ?