T+252: NASA Selects Blue Moon for a Second Lunar Lander, But is Facing a Grim Budget Reality

NASA selected Blue Moon as the second human lunar lander for Artemis—which is awesome!—yet the budget outlook for the next few years is…not good. I think through what NASA can, should, and might do in the face of a grim budget reality.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 36 executive producers—Tyler, Pat from KC, Brad, Theo and Violet, Matt, Fred, Robb, Simon, Dawn Aerospace, SmallSpark Space Systems, Moritz, Donald, Frank, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut), Kris, Harrison, Chris, Joel, Jan, Russell, Pat, Benjamin, David, Lee, Bob, Joonas, Lars from Agile Space, Stealth Julian, Steve, The Astrogators at SEE, Warren, Ryan—and 842 other supporters.TopicsNASA Selects Blue Origin as Second Artemis Lunar Lander Provider | NASANASA awards Blue Origin $3.4 billion Artemis moon lander contract – Spaceflight NowNASA selects Blue Origin to develop second Artemis lunar lander - SpaceNewsNASA’s Artemis program may face a budget crunch as costs continue to rise | Ars TechnicaA new report finds NASA has spent an obscene amount of money on SLS propulsion | Ars TechnicaAt long last, the glorious future we were promised in space is on the way | Ars TechnicaNASA’s Selection of the Blue Moon Lander for Artemis V | Selenian BoondocksThe ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to [email protected] @WeHaveMECOFollow @[email protected] on MastodonListen to MECO HeadlinesListen to Off-NominalJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterMusic by Max JustusArtwork photo by SpaceXWork with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works