NASA’s goal of landing on the Moon up to 21 times over two years will demand a complete overhaul of lunar landers and supply chain management. Success hinges not only on overcoming technical hurdles but also on better oversight and faster delivery from commercial providers.
The agency has contracts with SpaceX and Blue Origin for human-rated landers, yet these have faced delays and failures in recent attempts. Meanwhile, dozens of robotic landings are planned to scout for future bases and demonstrate technologies critical for sustained lunar operations.
Jacki Cortese, from Blue Origin, stresses the need for high-frequency, low-cost access to the Moon’s surface as a priority. This aligns with NASA’s roadmap for Artemis, focusing on building an outpost rather than a space station near the Moon.
The Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program has attracted 13 missions since 2019, but only one has been fully successful. Four more are under construction and set to launch this year, though industry delays are common.
