{snip}And today we have on-board hazard avoidance (demonstrated on Chang'e 3, planned and tested by the new lander companies) so we don't even have to rely on a human pilot to avoid hazards.
Quote from: Phil Stooke on 11/21/2018 02:20 am{snip}And today we have on-board hazard avoidance (demonstrated on Chang'e 3, planned and tested by the new lander companies) so we don't even have to rely on a human pilot to avoid hazards.The Hazard Area shown was built to flight test on-board hazard avoidance equipment.Craters and crevices - to the lander's leg both types of hole are a problem.The bigger the lander gets the fewer the natural landing areas available.
This is likely an announcement on CLPS contract awards. Can’t wait. https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-administrator-to-announce-new-moon-to-mars-partnerships-with-us-companies/ NASA Administrator to Announce New Moon to Mars Partnerships - NASA
Space-industry sources say the event will name 11 small companies that will be eligible to compete for millions of dollars in future NASA contracts.Business Insider has independently confirmed that a company called Astrobotic Technology will be one of those 11 partners, but an Astrobotic employee said they can't reveal specifics until Thursday.
The CLPS awards were not due until the end of the year.
Quote from: A_M_Swallow on 11/28/2018 11:47 pmThe CLPS awards were not due until the end of the year.It is the end of the year.
No Blue Origin.Hmmm....
Nov. 29, 2018RELEASE 18-105NASA Announces New Partnerships for Commercial Lunar Payload Delivery ServicesNine U.S. companies now are eligible to bid on NASA delivery services to the lunar surface through Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contracts, as one of the first steps toward long-term scientific study and human exploration of the Moon and eventually Mars.These companies will be able to bid on delivering science and technology payloads for NASA, including payload integration and operations, launching from Earth and landing on the surface of the Moon. NASA expects to be one of many customers that will use these commercial landing services.“Today’s announcement marks tangible progress in America’s return to the Moon’s surface to stay,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “The innovation of America’s aerospace companies, wedded with our big goals in science and human exploration, are going to help us achieve amazing things on the Moon and feed forward to Mars.”The selected companies are: Astrobotic Technology, Inc.: PittsburghDeep Space Systems: Littleton, ColoradoDraper: Cambridge, MassachusettsFirefly Aerospace, Inc.: Cedar Park, TexasIntuitive Machines, LLC: HoustonLockheed Martin Space: Littleton, ColoradoMasten Space Systems, Inc.: Mojave, CaliforniaMoon Express: Cape Canaveral, FloridaOrbit Beyond: Edison, New JerseyImage Gallery: Draft lander concepts from companies selected for the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) initiated the request for proposals leading to these selections as the first step in achieving a variety of science and technology objectives that could be addressed by regularly sending instruments, experiments and other small payloads to the Moon. SMD serves as the NASA interface between the agency’s mission directorates, the scientific community, and other external stakeholders in developing a strategy to enable an integrated approach for robotic and human exploration within NASA’s Moon to Mars Exploration Campaign.The Commercial Lunar Payload Services contracts are indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts with a combined maximum contract value of $2.6 billion during the next 10 years. The agency will look at a number of factors when comparing the bids, such as technical feasibility, price and schedule. Lunar payloads could fly on these contracted missions as early as 2019. In October, NASA issued a call for potential lunar instruments and technologies to study the Moon, with proposals due in January. These early missions will enable important technology demonstrations that will inform the development of future landers and other exploration systems needed for humans to return to the lunar surface, and help prepare the agency to send astronauts to explore Mars. NASA will re-examine the private market periodically for new and emerging lunar delivery capabilities, and may offer additional companies an opportunity to join Commercial Lunar Payload Services through a contract process called on-ramping.For more information about NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration plans, visit:https://www.nasa.gov/moontomars-end-Cheryl Warner / Steve ColeHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1540 / 202-358-0918[email protected]/ [email protected]Jenny KnottsJohnson Space Center, Houston281-483-5111[email protected]Last Updated: Nov. 29, 2018Editor: Sean Potter
Quote from: woods170 on 11/29/2018 06:36 pmNo Blue Origin.Hmmm....They noted these are only capability and services contracts- each company will be responsible for securing their own launch vehicle to actually get to the moon. If Blue Origin, SpaceX, ULA, Arianespace, etc are all options to get to the moon for the commercial services providers, there will likely be a fair amount of competition to get the launch contracts.
Masten Space SystemsAstroboticLockheed MartinMoon ExpressDeep Space SystemsFireflyDraper / iSpaceIntuitive MachinesOrbit Beyond
Quote from: PhotoEngineer on 11/29/2018 06:22 pmMasten Space SystemsAstroboticLockheed MartinMoon ExpressDeep Space SystemsFireflyDraper / iSpaceIntuitive MachinesOrbit BeyondOne of these is not like the other. Why was an aerospace giant included?
