More Boots on Moon delays: NASA stops work on SpaceX human landing system as Blue Origin lawsuit rolls on
- Reference: 1629475451
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/08/20/nasa_blue_origin_lawsuit_spacex_voluntary_stay/
- Source link:
Blue Origin [1]filed its latest lawsuit last week over a multibillion-dollar contract awarded to SpaceX for the development of the next lunar lander.
The suit had followed a [2]formal protest by Bezos and pals , which was subsequently snubbed by lawmakers.
[3]
A schedule issue for the suit
[4]PDF
issued last night, detailing deadlines for filings, included a line indicating that NASA was downing tools while the process ground its way through the system. The action "NASA Voluntary Stay of Performance" is set to expire on 1 November 2021, effectively inserting a more than two-month delay into NASA's already tight schedule.[5]Blue Origin sues NASA for awarding SpaceX $3bn contract to land next American boots on the Moon
[6]Boots on Moon in 2024? NASA OIG says you better moonwalk away from that date, because suits ain't ready
[7]SpaceX Starship struts its stack to show it has the right stuff
[8]US govt calmly but firmly tells Blue Origin it already has a ride to the Moon's surface with SpaceX, thanks
The agency hopes that its actions will speed things up a bit. A spokesperson told The Register : "NASA has voluntarily paused work with SpaceX for the human landing system (HLS) Option A contract effective Aug. 19 through Nov. 1.
"In exchange for this temporary stay of work, all parties agreed to an expedited litigation schedule that concludes on Nov. 1.
[9]
"NASA officials are continuing to work with the Department of Justice to review the details of the case and look forward to a timely resolution of this matter."
The agency did not comment on the impact the pause would have on its schedules. A [10]recent report by NASA's Office of Inspector General made for grim reading for enthusiasts hoping for a return to the Moon before 2025. The chances of suits for the astronauts being ready in time was slim, and the latest legal wrangling has further dented the chances of a vehicle being ready in time to ferry 'nauts down to the lunar surface.
[11]
The next deadline for Blue Origin is 3 September, when motions are expected to be filed. The US and SpaceX then have until 9 September to respond, followed by to-ing and fro-ing of cross-motions into October. ®
Get our [12]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/16/blue_origin_lawsuit/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2021/05/04/nasa_moon_contract/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YSAmIoS4iJ2ZVLZAlfAncgAAAMI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://regmedia.co.uk/2021/08/20/blue_origin_vs_united_states.pdf
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/16/blue_origin_lawsuit/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/10/nasa_oig_moon_suit/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/07/spacex_starship_stacked/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/02/us_moon_spacex/
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YSAmIoS4iJ2ZVLZAlfAncgAAAMI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/10/nasa_oig_moon_suit/
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YSAmIoS4iJ2ZVLZAlfAncgAAAMI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: At least it isn't going to slow stuff down
we really don't need predatory and/or burdensome and/or malicious (or even VEXATIOUS) lawsuits getting in the way.
Bezos, exactly HOW many successful spacecraft has your company designed and flown in ACTUAL missions, other than that sub-orbital publicity stunt you did a month ago?
*cricket* *cricket* *cricket* *cricket* *cricket* *cricket*
Ya think maybe SpaceX might have a good track record of price and performance? And contracts should NEVER be based on ANYTHING ELSE.
(stupid predatory, burdensome, malicious, and vexatious lawsuits)
Bezos: GET A TRACK RECORD. COMPETE. Your "Legal Tricks" are for CHILDREN!
Re: The next deadline for Blue Origin is 3rd September...
Given the incredible progress of late, at Boca Chica, it's pretty clear (from this) Elon Musk will set his own deadline for the first launch of a fully stacked Spaceship 20+Booster 4, aka 'Starship' as Friday 3rd September, with the 10th September, as another possible date.
Mainly because everyone at SpaceX can see this date will so worth the gamble (in more ways than one), if a successful launch is achieved.
Bring it on, as they say.
Being from Seattle, my opinion of Bezos was low anyway, but this stunt is old aerospace sour grapes. I think he's getting bad advice from his old aero managers. He should put his head down and do what Musk does; work hard, take risks and perform. it's not like he doesn'at have to money to hire good leaders.
Bezos lost
Because SpaceX could show
1. Proven themselves at space flight with 80+ orbital launches with everything from manned LEO missions to the ISS to Geo-stationary orbits.
2. Have a vehicle( falcon heavy) capable of lobbing a tesla car and some other ballast to Mars orbit (and that was in a recover all 3 boosters configuration)
3. And bid lower than Bezos.......
When bezos can match the first 2 , then his bids maybe worth some merit
(and I'm not including the 'starship' concept under development as that has'nt got to orbit yet)
Re: Bezos lost
I'm not including the 'starship' concept under development as that has'nt got to orbit yet
Why not? It's part of SpaceX's bid and shows they have the start of working hardware and not just pipedreams.
What did anyone in NASA expect?
Poor rich kid doesn't get his way so tosses toys across the room and calls in the lawyers.
As a side comment, it's not like his company has any experience outside of his tourist rocket. How long would it take them to play catch up to a level of experience and knowledge that SpaceX has?
Re: What did anyone in NASA expect?
An amusing addition to your side comment is the fact that BO was started before SpaceX.
Considering Falcon 1 achieved orbit in September 2008 I'd say BO are at least 13 years behind SpaceX.
What a complete arse!
A self entitled twat, he wants to hold back an ongoing project just to satisfy his own vanity.
Even if bozos forces NASA to give him some kind of contract, he has nothing that is near ready so there will be further delays.
Looked at from some angles he is acting against the national interest.
Bezos
What a knob. That is all.
Re: Bezos
That explains why his rocket is that shape...
If Blue O had been on the original Apollo - the uber big Von Braun rocket - we'd still be getting to the moon sometime after 2025, it would just be for the first time.
Didn't NASA think about that when it opened to "commercial" companies?
I'm sure the first private manned outpost will be a law firm subsidiary to take care of all these lawsuit.. they will be earn so much they will be able to establish their own space operations.
Loser pays
This kind of thing is why we need a loser pays regime for at least some civil lawsuits. If Mr Bezos were personally on the hook not only for all of NASA's (i.e., the TAXPAYERS') legal fees and court costs but also the cost of lost time, loss of staff who may leave when given nothing to do, cost of salaries and wages paid to retain people who have no work to do, wasted materials, etc. as well as all of SpaceX's indirect and consequential damages, he might decide to accept that he's already lost twice. The money he's spaffing on lawyers could instead be invested in better technology so that when the next RFP rolls around they'd have a better chance to win. As it is, the incentives are such that the risk of filing the lawsuit is negligible even if the likelihood of winning it is low, and Mr Bezos and company have apparently decided lawsuits are cheaper to win than contracts. Mr Bezos is a jerk but he's also a product of the system. If we don't want people acting like this, we need to make sure their actions land them in the poorhouse. Incentives really do work!
Re: Loser pays
"Tort Reform" at the federal level. You're making too much sense!
Yeah I'm sure
The richest man in the world is going to be bothered by paying the legal costs if he loses. That's like if I bumped into your kid accidentally and made him drop his gumball, and you made me give him a nickel so he could get another one!
Anyway, it wouldn't be him paying, it would Blue Origin. Though since I'm sure he is supporting it, that amounts to the same thing at least for now.
This is what happens when you get "big tech-like" companies involved. They don't win by being great, they win by just keeping everyone else back.
Mankind's exploration of space is over, now it will just be monkeys rolling around in the dirt chucking their own feces at one another.
I like Americans. They’re funny!
Blue Origin is just a theoretical capability
As far as I can tell Blue Origin is not a real space launch capability. It might work whenever but its well behind SpaceX in this version of the Space Race. Having all the best features is nice if your product actually exists but nothing has been delivered. If and when it does fly then companies like BO and Boeing are going to have to reckon with the cost savings from reusability and the likelyhood that countries like Russia and China have also developed similar technology to SpaceX (likely, IMHO). This puts BO not in second place but right down the field.
So Bezos will have to content himself with Amazon, AWS and the like. Oh well.
Good Value
SpaceX is proving to be good value for NASA. Got their commercial crew flying before Boeing for less money. And using Falcon Heavy for Europa Clipper instead of SLS will save NASA over $1.5 billion.
NASA should countersue
Specifically, they should countersue for all the lost time and work and recoup the taxpayer dollars from Blue Origin.
At least it isn't going to slow stuff down
SpaceX are developing anyway.