The U.S. Court of Federal Claims ruled against Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space company in its bid to win a NASA space contract worth $2.9 billion USD.
Blue Origin filed an appeal in August against NASA’s decision to award rival aerospace company, Elon Musk’s SpaceX, with a major lunar exploration contract. Part of the space agency’s Artemis program, the winning company will get to develop the first commercial human lander that will eventually land two humans on the moon. NASA is planning an uncrewed test launch in preparation for this trip in February 2022.
On Thursday, Judge Richard A. Herling ruled against Blue Origin’s appeal. In a tweet announcing the outcome, Bezos said he respected the decision.
“Not the decision we wanted, but we respect the court’s judgment, and wish full success for NASA and SpaceX on the contract.”
Not the decision we wanted, but we respect the court’s judgment, and wish full success for NASA and SpaceX on the contract. pic.twitter.com/BeXc4A8YaW
— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) November 4, 2021
NASA in a statement said it would resume work with SpaceX “as soon as possible.” The company previously halted work on the project amid the legal filing.
“There will be forthcoming opportunities for companies to partner with NASA in establishing a long-term human presence at the Moon under the agency’s Artemis program, including a call in 2022 to U.S. industry for recurring crewed lunar landing services,” the agency said.
Musk responded to news of the decision by posting a meme from the 2012 movie Dredd.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2021
In other news, here’s what Jupiter’s “beautiful and violent” atmosphere looks like in 3D.
