Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Blue Origin has set sight on a 2025 launch for its inaugural lunar lander, as revealed by John Couluris, the company's senior vice president of lunar permanence, during an interview on CBS new show "60 Minutes".
Couluris anticipates the debut of the Mark 1 version of Blue Moon lander within 12 to 16 months, serving as a precursor to future crewed missions.
The Mark 1 lander, designated MK1-SN001, will act as a technology demonstrator, testing critical systems including the BE-7 engine, cryogenic fluid power, and avionics.
Blue Origin's Pathfinder Mission aims to validate essential technologies such as precision landing and continuous downlink communications, laying the groundwork for future lunar exploration endeavours.
The company plans multiple flights of the Blue Moon Mark 1 lander, signalling a robust commitment to lunar exploration as it progresses towards developing the Mark 2 lander intended for crewed missions.
Blue Origin secured a $3.4 billion contract with NASA in May 2023 to develop the Mark 2 lander for the Human Landing System (HLS) program, a critical component of the Artemis missions.
Blue Moon's launch hinges on the readiness of the New Glenn rocket, which undergoes testing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, with a likely payload being a NASA Mars smallsat mission.