National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has awarded contracts to 3 private companies to run missions for the space agency. Sources reveal that NASA is in plans to spend more than 250 Million US Dollars in hiring private companies which will explore the surface of the Moon for resources and the expeditions’ paramount objective will be find places where water is found.
The three companies that are awarded these contracts are Astrobotic Technology, Intuitive Machines and Orbit Beyond. Although all these companies are American, Orbit Beyond which is a consortium (of 9 aerospace companies) will build the moon lander through Team Indus, an Indian Aerospace company.
The interesting part is NASA has given contracts to American companies like Lockheed before but it always keeps check with the design details but in the case of this expedition, the companies have the control of the moon lander, the launch, the landing of the rover and more. Steven W. Clarke, Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration said, “they are responsible for the launch, the lander itself, landing it, and making sure we can operate our instruments on the surface of the moon.”
Of all the 9 companies in Orbit Beyond’s affiliation, Team Indus is chosen to design and construct the lander. Truly, the world has acknowledged India’s brilliance in technology and it is indeed a proud moment for us, as this kind of outsourcing is a first in NASA’s modern history.
The launch is expected to take place in the year 2021.