Bezos, "Will Pay $2 Billion If Awarded NASA Moon Lander Contract"

Direct Challenge to SpaceX as Sole Contractor
NASA Refuses Comment... Contractor Selection Change Unlikely

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Jeff Bezos, the world's richest person and chairman of Amazon's board, who founded Amazon, has announced that if NASA selects his space company Blue Origin as the lunar lander contractor, he will provide up to $2 billion (approximately 2.3 trillion KRW) in development costs. This move is seen as a direct challenge to SpaceX, which was previously selected as the sole lunar lander contractor in April. It is expected that competition to lead the space industry will become even more intense in the future.

According to CNN and other foreign media on the 26th (local time), Bezos wrote in a letter to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson that "If Blue Origin is selected as NASA's lunar lander contractor, Blue Origin will cover up to $2 billion in development costs spanning from the current government fiscal year to the next, as well as the costs for orbital missions for technology investigation," adding, "In return, Blue Origin hopes to receive a fixed-price contract."

This lunar lander production project is part of the Artemis program, the U.S. government's lunar exploration initiative, and is valued at $2.89 billion. NASA had previously selected SpaceX as the sole contractor in April. Industry insiders view Bezos's move as an effort to directly confront SpaceX to secure a leading position in the space business sector.

Initially, NASA stated it would select multiple contractors considering the sustainability and stability of lander production, with three companies?SpaceX, Blue Origin, and defense contractor Dynetics?bidding. However, NASA suddenly changed the plan to select a sole contractor and chose SpaceX, which sparked controversy.

Bezos stated, "My proposal will remove NASA's budget constraints," adding, "If there is no competition in this project, NASA's short- and long-term lunar plans will be delayed, ultimately costing more and not benefiting national interests." NASA and SpaceX reportedly did not immediately respond to requests for comments on this matter.

Meanwhile, immediately after the contractor selection announcement, Blue Origin filed a protest with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) opposing NASA's decision. Blue Origin claims that NASA unfairly changed the bidding conditions to select SpaceX as the sole contractor. The GAO's decision is expected early next month, and major foreign media, citing industry sources, report that "there is little chance of a reversal."