/sci/ - Science & Math

https://spacenews.com/dynetics-sierra-nevada-bidding-on-artemis-lunar-lander/

Dynetics, Sierra Nevada bidding on Artemis lunar lander:

> A team led by Dynetics that includes Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is among the bidders for a NASA program to develop landers that will carry astronauts to the surface of the moon.

> Dynetics spokesperson Kristina Hendrix confirmed in a Jan. 9 email that the company did submit a proposal for the HLS program. “We have put together a very impressive team of experienced small and mid-sized companies that bring a wide range of experience in NASA, DoD and commercial space programs,” she said. She declined to provide more information about the company’s bid, including who the other members of the team are.

> Proposals for HLS were due to NASA Nov. 5. Prior to the deadline Blue Origin announced it was bidding on the program with a “national team” that included Draper, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. Boeing announced at the proposal deadline that it had submitted a bid for a lunar lander that would be launched by the SLS. There’s widespread belief in the space industry that SpaceX is also bidding on the program, but the company has not commented on whether it is a bidder.

> NASA had expected to award several study contracts by the end of 2019 for HLS, later selecting one or two companies to proceed to full-scale development. Those initial awards are now not expected until at least February, industry sources say, in part because of budget uncertainty. NASA received $600 million to start lunar lander work in the fiscal year 2020 appropriations bill enacted in December, but had requested $1 billion.

>Dynetics, who announced Dec. 17 it would be acquired by Leidos in a $1.65 billion all-cash deal, currently works with one of the companies in NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. It is supplying propulsion the main propulsion system for the Peregrine lander under development by Astrobotic.