Trump adds $1.6 billion to NASA budget request to kick start 'Artemis' moon mission
The Trump administration is adding an additional $1.6 billion to NASA's $21 billion 2020 budget request to kick start plans to return American astronauts to the moon in 2024, four years earlier than previously planned, NASA announced Monday. In a surprise announcement, agency Administrator Jim Bridenstine said the revitalized moon program will be named Artemis after the Greek goddess of the moon.
[...] According to a NASA fact sheet, the new budget request includes $1 billion "to enable NASA to being supporting the development of commercial human lunar landing systems three years earlier than previously envisioned. This acquisition strategy will allow NASA to purchase an integrated commercial lunar lander that will transport astronauts from lunar orbit to the lunar surface and back."
Gateway development will be limited to what is needed to make the station a viable staging base for trips to the surface. That will free up $321 million for other moon spending. An additional $651 million is earmarked for the Space Launch System — SLS — heavy lift rocket and Orion spacecraft. Lunar surface technologies and propulsion systems would receive an additional $132 million with $90 million going to robotic exploration and research near the moon's south pole.
[...] The same day Bridenstine talked of the challenge of landing on the moon, Amazon-founder Jeff Bezos unveiled a lunar lander called Blue Moon that could put 6.5 metric tons on the surface of the moon. He said Blue Moon, carrying an ascent stage, could meet NASA's schedule for landing astronauts on the surface by 2024.
Previously: NASA Chief Says a Falcon Heavy Rocket Could Fly Humans to the Moon
Here's Why NASA's Audacious Return to the Moon Just Might Work
Lockheed Martin Proposes Streamlined Lunar Gateway for 2024 Manned Lunar Landing
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Tuesday May 14 2019, @02:30PM (2 children)
That oughta buy a roll of duct tape...
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 4, Informative) by Alfred on Tuesday May 14 2019, @04:12PM (1 child)
* the duct tape committee is governed by the adhesives board which is overseen by the food and drug administration for some reason.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 14 2019, @10:13PM
Factory to be built in Michigan to make sure the electoral balance tips favorably in the next election. Tape is to be shipped all the way down to Florida by special rail line built across Indian land. Massive protests at factory site and rail line ensue. A good chunk of that $1.6 billion will go to fund National Guard troops called out to quell unrest.