Blue Origin Lunar Lander Will Carry NASA Payload | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-02.10.25

Airborne-NextGen-02.11.25

Airborne-Unlimited-02.12.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-02.13.25

Airborne-Unlimited-02.14.25

Thu, Aug 15, 2024

Blue Origin Lunar Lander Will Carry NASA Payload

Will Be Blue Moon Pathfinder’s First Mission

Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch vehicle will power the first voyage of Blue Moon Pathfinder to a lunar landing near the lunar south pole as a precursor to subsequent missions.

Pathfinder was chosen by NASA to carry a camera system to study the interaction between the lander’s engine thrust plume and the moon’s regolith.

Regolith refers to the loose rocks, dust and other material on the surface covering the solid rock below. On earth, regolith includes soil and other loose material on the surface. The camera system is called the Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies, or SCALPSS. The study is critical to future NASA Artemis missions and requires the lander’s engines to produce thrust levels of at least 8,000 pound-feet (lbf). There is a strong correlation between thrust levels and interaction so the 8,000 lbf will approximately mimic the Artemis lander’s engines and enable planners to determine how the engine plumes interact with the regolith.

Because Blue Origin is the only launch provider currently conducting missions to the Lunar South Pole that has the necessary engine thrust, NASA selected the company without the normal competitive bid process. An additional reason for the decision was Blue Origin’s plan to launch the mission in 2025, and NASA needs the SCALPSS data to inform Artemis planners and make any necessary modifications prior to that mission. The justifications were described in a NASA document titled "Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity.”

FMI:  www.blueorigin.com/

Advertisement

More News

Final Douglas A-20 In Accident During WBCA Air Show

Pilot Injured After a Mid-Air ‘Mechanical Issue’ Forces an Emergency Landing The last airworthy Douglas A-20 light bomber went down in Laredo, Texas, after a “mec>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (02.16.25)

“The FAA is modifying FAA regulations in a way to help the industry do business with today’s technology...” Source: Scott McCreary, a member of NBAA’s Tax C>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (02.16.25): UNICOM

UNICOM A nongovernment communication facility which may provide airport information at certain airports. Locations and frequencies of UNICOMs are shown on aeronautical charts and p>[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 02.13.25: Sonex HW!, Stampe Reborn, ERAU Buys NX Cubs

Also: DeltaHawk RV-14 Runups!, GAMI G100UL Issues, Able Flight's 100th, New Rotax Problems Sonex Aircraft has officially opened reservations for its highly anticipated Highwing kit>[...]

Airborne 02.10.25: The Stampe Returns!, Musk Reforming ATC?, TWO B29s For OSH25!

Also: US Seizes 2nd Jet, More Osh Performers, Tuskegee Airman Passes, Safran Electric A/C Motor JMB Aircraft and Ultralight Concept have formed a joint venture with plans to recrea>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC