
We look forward to hearing from NASA on next steps in the HLS (Human Lander System) procurement process,” the spokesperson added.īlue Origin filed the lawsuit back in August after losing out on NASA’s contract to build a landing system for the upcoming Artemis mission, which is scheduled to send humans back to the Moon in 2024. After a federal judge ruled against Blue Origins lawsuit seeking to over the NASA. “We are also under contract with NASA to develop in-situ resource utilization technology, lunar space robotics, and lunar landing sensor collaboration including testing on New Shepard. Judge releases redacted lunar lander lawsuit from Bezos Blue Origin against NASA-SpaceX contract. “We are fully engaged with NASA to mature sustainable lander designs, conduct a wide variety of technology risk reductions, and provide Commercial Lunar Payload Services,” the Blue Origin spokesperson said. In September, the US space agency awarded Blue Origin and four other companies, including SpaceX, to develop “sustainable human landing system concepts” for establishing a long-term presence on the Moon. Instead, the company said it’s still working with NASA on lunar landing systems, but through other contracts. However, Blue Origin didn’t mention any effort to appeal the ruling. "Returning astronauts safely to the Moon through NASA’s public-private partnership model requires an unprejudiced procurement process alongside sound policy that incorporates redundant systems and promotes competition." "Our lawsuit with the Court of Federal Claims highlighted the important safety issues with the Human Landing System procurement process that must still be addressed," a Blue Origin spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday. (The company also complained to the US Government Accountability Office about the contract, but in July the GAO rejected the claims, noting Blue Origin's bid offer was significantly higher in price.)

The decision is a setback for Blue Origin, which had claimed NASA improperly awarded the contract to SpaceX by allegedly ignoring certain safely-related requirements during the bidding process. 18 to propose redactions to any confidential information in the ruling before the court publishes it. Surprise Medical Bill Rule Lawsuit Heading Toward Texas Court, coverage in Bloomberg Law, September 27, 2022, featuring Adjunct Professor Katie Keith. Jeff Bezos presented the Blue Moon moon lander. Best Hosted Endpoint Protection and Security SoftwareĪs a result, the judge’s reasoning behind the ruling remains unclear. A federal judge rejected the argument by Jeff Bezos’ rocket company that NASA unfairly awarded a lunar lander contract to Elon Musk’s firm.NASA also stated that there will be future contracts for private space companies to bid on, including the construction of a long-term human presence on the moon. Work on the Artemis program was paused during litigation. NASA issued a press release stating that they would begin work on the SpaceX contract immediately.

A redacted copy of Judge Hertling’s opinion will be released on November 18. The court has yet to make Judge Hertlings. Hertling rejected Blue Origins lawsuit over a NASA moon lander contract. The order by Judge Hertling dismissed Blue Origin’s claims but does not provide the court’s reasoning. According to the Wall Street Journal, Federal Claims Judge Richard A. Disputes regarding awards of federal contracts are often filed in this court, such as in this case.īlue Origin claimed that NASA selectively enforced safety requirements in the bidding process, allowing SpaceX to proceed with a complex and risky design. The filings center on NASA’s decision in April to award SpaceX a 2.9 billion contract to develop its Starship super-rocket as the landing system for the Artemis program’s first crewed trip to the lunar surface, planned for as early as 2024.

Congress created the modern version of the court through legislation in 1982. The court also made available redacted responses from SpaceX. The court is a specialized court for monetary claims against the US government. The contract, worth $2.9 billion, engages SpaceX to transport NASA astronauts to the moon for the agency’s Artemis missions.īlue Origin filed suit in the US Court of Federal Claims in August. NASA awarded SpaceX the contract to develop the agency’s Human Landing System in April. The US Court of Federal Claims on Thursday ruled against Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin in a lawsuit contesting NASA’s decision to award a lucrative contract to rival SpaceX.
