NASA chose the SpaceX landing module to return a person to the moon

The American space agency entered into a contract with SpaceX Corporation Ilona Mask on the development of a spacecraft for the delivery of astronauts to the moon. The order worth 2.89 billion dollars is reported on the NASA website.

SpaceX should develop a launched lunar module, which will be delivered to the orbit of the satellite of the Sls-Lockheed Martin and Airbus spacecraft of the Orion spacecraft.

It is assumed that four astronauts will be delivered to orbit. Two of them will go down to the surface of the moon on the descended apparatus of SpaceX and spend a week there. After that, they will return aboard the Orion, which will return them to Earth.

If the mission is successful, this will be the seventh landing of a person to the Earth's satellite and the first - since 1972. During the new stage of conquering the moon to the satellite, a woman and representative of the ethnic minority will have to go down for the first time.

Due to problems with the budget, NASA will first refuse to duplicate the development of all systems at least two competing companies. By choosing SpaceX, the agency will not finance the development of the lunar module of the Blue Origin corporation, which belongs to the richest man in the world of Jeff Bezos.

Budget financing problems have already led to a probable delay in the terms of implementation of the program. Earlier it was assumed that the landing of a person to the moon will be held in 2024. Not later than 2030, a person plans to send China to a satellite.

Russia previously declared readiness for the landing of the first astronauts on the satellite as well as by 2030. After that, the deadlines moved to an indefinite time, the head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin said that the country did not plan to participate in the lunar race, since it "does not have a prize fund" in it.

• The American program to return mankind to the moon was converted under President Barack Obama. She was restarted by order of President Trump in 2019. Cosmic enthusiasts were afraid that she would be limited to President Bayden again, but in April he urged Congress to increase NASA financing.
• After the closing of the SPAS SCATTL program in 2011, the United States 9 years old was not able to deliver a person to space. Since May 2020, two missions were sent to the ISS on the SpaceX spacecraft, the next start is scheduled for April 22. In addition, the delivery of astronauts to the ISS will have to be carried out by the promising spacecraft " Starliner ", the development of which is carried out by the Boeing Corporation.