This ramps up the space rivalry big time, putting Bezos head-to-head with Musk in a potential lunar showdown.
Were expecting to land on the Moon between 12 and 16 months from today, he said.
I understand Im saying that publicly, but thats what our team is aiming towards.
Image: Conceptual image of Blue Origin’s MK1.
The upcoming pathfinding mission, known as MK1-SN001, is meant to showcase various capabilities of theMK1 cargo vehicle.
In contrast to the single-use MK1, the 52-foot-tall (16-meter) Blue Moon is designed for repeat missions.
It will transport astronauts to the lunar surface and then bring them back to lunar orbit.
And well refuel them in orbit, so that multiple astronauts can use the same vehicle back and forth.
Its inaugural launch could happen later this year.
The bold new timelines and Blue Origins markedly more assertive approach are not entirely unexpected.
NASA wants the fully reusable four-person Blue Moon lander for the Artemis 5 mission, currently scheduled for 2029.
That would be very interesting, adding more fuel to the Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos rivalry.
As far as NASA is concerned, its all good.
If we have a problem with one, well have another one to rely on, he said.
The space race between SpaceX and Blue Origin isfinallyheating up.
And theres even more to this story.
Bring it on, I say.
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