Washington:
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin sued the U.S government more than NASA’s choice to award a $2.9 billion lunar lander contract to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Blue Origin stated its lawsuit filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims on Friday is “an attempt to remedy the flaws in the acquisition process found in NASA’s Human Landing System.”
It added it believes “the issues identified in this procurement and its outcomes must be addressed to restore fairness, create competition, and ensure a safe return to the Moon for America.”
Last month, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) sided with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration more than its choice to choose a single lunar lander provider, rejecting Blue Origin’s protest.
Blue Origin’s lawsuit remains below seal. NASA should file a response to the challenge by Oct. 12.
“NASA officials are currently reviewing details of the case,” the agency stated in a statement. “With our partners, we will go to the Moon and stay to enable science investigations, develop new technology, and create high paying jobs for the greater good and in preparation to send astronauts to Mars.”
The agency added, “as soon as possible, the agency will provide an update on the way forward for returning to the Moon as quickly and as safely as possible under Artemis.”
Blue Origin and defense contractor Dynetics have argued that NASA was needed to make various awards. The GAO stated it “denied the protest arguments that NASA acted improperly in making a single award to SpaceX.”
Blue Origin, the rocket corporation founded by Amazon.com Inc’s founder, billionaire Bezos, stated earlier it remained convinced there had been “fundamental issues” with NASA’s choice and that GAO was not in a position to address them “due to their limited jurisdiction.”
Blue Origin stated it will continue to advocate for two quick providers as it believes that to be the ideal option.
SpaceX, which is headed by Tesla Inc’s CEO, Musk, did not quickly comment on Monday.
NASA had sought proposals for a spacecraft that would carry astronauts to the lunar surface below its Artemis plan to return humans to the moon for the 1st time due to the fact 1972.
In April, NASA awarded SpaceX a contract to make such a spacecraft as early as 2024.
Blue Origin had contended NASA gave SpaceX an unfair benefit by letting it revise its pricing.
Bezos has presented to cover up to $2 billion in NASA expenses if the U.S. space agency awarded Blue Origin a lunar landing contract.
(This story has not been edited by TheSpuzz employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)