Blue Origin logo.
May 10, 2019
The richest man in the world hopes to help NASA bring astronauts back to the moon in 2024.
Elon Musk dreams of Mars, Jeff Bezos has his head in the moon. The boss of Amazon and the space company Blue Origin, announced Thursday in Washington that he intended to participate in the new conquest of the Moon, presenting a project of stringer. "This is Blue Moon," he said in a press presentation.
Going to Space to Benefit Earth (Full Event Replay)
Behind him, curtains have unveiled a large lander model weighing more than three tons empty, capable of carrying 3.6 tons of material on the lunar surface, and 6.5 tons in a heavier version. "It's an incredible vehicle, and it will go to the moon," said Jeff Bezos. The stringer has been in development for three years, he said. He will be able to bring scientific instruments, four small rovers, but also a future pressurized vehicle for humans, according to him.
Objective 2024
The goal is to moon at the South Pole of the Moon, where there is water. Water can be exploited to produce hydrogen, which would then be used as a fuel to explore the solar system.
Blue Moon lander presentation
He did not give a date for the first launch of this hoist, and Blue Origin did not provide any details. The boss did not talk to reporters. But in his presentation, on a carefully decorated stage illuminated with blue, he subscribed to the goal of Donald Trump's government to send humans back to the moon by 2024. He said his aluner would be ready to accompany this mission.
"We can help keep that time, but only because we started three years ago," said Jeff Bezos. "It's time to go back to the moon, but this time to stay there." And he showed a simulation video of a vehicle able to trace astronauts from the surface to orbit.
Colonies of space
The return to the moon in 2024, announced by the White House, has plunged NASA into a frenzy of activity since the end of March, because this mission was originally scheduled for 2028. Nothing is ready: neither the powerful rocket (SLS) who has to carry the vehicles and astronauts. Neither the elements of the future mini-station in lunar orbit that will serve as relay point between the Earth and the Moon. Neither the starter or rovers needed by astronauts, including the first woman to set foot on the Earth's natural satellite.
Blue Moon Lunar Crew Lander
But Jeff Bezos, who rarely spoke about the developments of his company Blue Origin, founded in 2000 and which finances more than a billion dollars a year, has made it clear that he wants to help the Nasa.
"My generation's job is to build the infrastructure," Bezos said. "We are going to build a space road". He confirmed that Blue Origin's big rocket, New Glenn, would be ready in 2021. It will offer "a drastic reduction in launch costs," he promised.
Blue Origin's other project is the small New Shepard rocket, intended for short trips of about ten minutes just above the border of space (100 km altitude), for "tourists". The rocket, which has completed eleven empty tests since Texas, will take humans for the first time this year, he confirmed Thursday.
Blue Moon lunar lander:
Blue Moon Lunar Lander
Blue Origin announced Blue Moon, its large lunar lander capable of delivering multiple metric tons of payload to the lunar surface based on configuration and mission. The cargo variant revealed today can carry 3.6 metric tons to the surface. We have also designed a variant of the lander that can stretch to be capable of carrying a 6.5-metric-ton, human-rated ascent stage. Blue also announced it can meet the current Administration's goal of putting Americans on the Moon by 2024 with the Blue Moon lunar lander. https://www.blueorigin.com/blue-moon
BE-7 engine:
BE-7 engine
The Blue Moon lunar lander will be powered by the BE-7 engine, a new addition to Blue Origin’s family of engines. The BE-7’s 40 kN (10,000 lbf) thrust is designed for large lunar payload transport. The engine’s propellants are a highly-efficient combination of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The BE-7 will have its first hotfire this summer. The engine will be available for sale to other companies for use in in-space and lander applications. https://www.blueorigin.com/engines/be-7
Club For the Future:
A non-profit founded by Blue Origin dedicated to inspiring and engaging the next generation of dreamers and space entrepreneurs as we journey to preserve Earth and unlock the potential of living and working in space. The Club will bring together K-12 students, educators and leaders for campaigns and initiatives utilizing Blue Origin’s unique access to space. The Club’s first activity will be to send a postcard to space and back on a future New Shepard mission—the first ever space mail. Learn more on the website (https://clubforfuture.org/). Follow @ClubforFuture on Twitter and Instagram. https://twitter.com/clubforfuture and https://www.instagram.com/clubforfuture/
Blue Origin: https://www.blueorigin.com/
Images, Video, Text, Credits: Blue Origin/Gradatim Ferociter/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
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