Space News by Jeff Foust — April 8, 2020
NASA announced April 8 it has selected Masten Space Systems to fly a suite of payloads to the south pole of the moon in late 2022.
Masten won a task order for NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program valued at $75.9 million. Masten will deliver nine science and technology demonstration payloads to the lunar surface near the south pole by December 2022 on the company’s XL-1 lander.
The CLPS payloads, with a mass of about 80 kilograms, will serve as the initial, anchor customer for that mission, Sean Mahoney, chief executive of Masten, said in an interview. He said there are “hundreds†of kilograms of additional payload space available on the lander, and that the company is working to line up additional customers.
“It runs the gamut,†Mahoney said of other prospective customers. Other, complementary NASA programs may fly payloads on the lander, he said, along with interest from the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. Commercial and philanthropic groups are another set of potential customers.
The XL-1 lander is approaching its preliminary design review. It builds upon the company’s experience developing terrestrial vehicles capable of vertical takeoffs and landings, with more than 600 flights to date. In 2009, the company won the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge competition, part of NASA’s Centennial Challenges prize program, with landers named Xombie and Xoie.
More:
https://spacenews.com/masten-wins-nasa-lunar-lander-award/
