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Now that the moon has water, Jeff Bezos is already planning how to get it. The Amazon founder founded the space venture Blue Origin in 2000 with the goal of creating reusable launch vehicles. This leads to his grand plan of placing humans on the moon.
The company is working on a landing system that could bring astronauts to the moon by 2024. But Blue Origin plans to send a cargo mission to the moon before that in 2023.
Blue Origin chief scientist Steve Squyres spoke at a virtual symposium held by the University of Washington’s Space Policy and Research Center. He outlined the plans Blue Origin has for an Amazon-like delivery service to the moon.
Blue Origin originally announced the cargo delivery concept in 2017, but more details were confirmed today. Squyres explained that the 2023 cargo mission is part of the master plan for a permanent human settlement on the moon. The landing gear in this mission will also serve as a preliminary test for the manned mission scheduled for 2024.
There is still no confirmation on what will be included in the delivery of the cargo. What do you need on the moon?
“This lander in 2023 can carry up to 1,000 kilograms, an entire metric ton of cargo, on the surface. Part of that cargo can be emergency supplies, tools, spare parts, a rover for the crew to drive with if NASA has it ready in time “. Squyres said.
The unmanned mission aims to land close to the target site for the 2024 landing. Blue Origin hopes to establish a base camp on the moon which will then receive regular deliveries of goods. The company is currently working with industry partners to develop elevator modules for both manned and unmanned spacecraft. Squyres also said the first priority for the settlement project would be to build “landing and launch platforms that will make flight operations safe on a base where there are people and infrastructure.”
If all goes to plan, it looks like we could soon be sending packets into space. Alexa, change my delivery address on the moon.
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