Bezos’ Blue Origin sues the US government over NASA’s decision to award a lunar landing contract to SpaceX | US news

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Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin sued the US government after NASA awarded a moon landing contract to compete with SpaceX.

The lawsuit – which has been filed in federal court and sealed – is understood to be a continuation of the company’s claim that the agency wrongly awarded the $2.9 billion contract to Elon Musk’s SpaceX earlier this year.

A spokesperson for Blue Origin said the company wants to “address flaws in the acquisition process that exist in NASA’s human landing system.”

“We firmly believe that the issues identified in these purchases and their outcomes must be addressed to restore fairness, create competition, and ensure a safe return to the Moon for America,” they added.

SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Dynetics were vying for what was expected to be two contracts, but after funding from Congress was less than expected, NASA decided to award just one contract.

SpaceX was awarded a contract in April to build a spacecraft to carry astronauts to the lunar surface under NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to bring humans to the moon for the first time since 1972.

Blue Origin contested the decision last month, but the Government Accountability Office sided with NASA over its decision to pick one exhibitor.

Dynetics also said that NASA should have offered more than one award.

NASA must respond to Blue Origin’s suit by October 12.

“NASA officials are currently reviewing the details of the case,” the agency said.

“With our partners, we will go to the moon and stay to enable scientific investigations, develop new technology, create high-paying jobs for the greater good and prepare to send astronauts to Mars.”

Blue Origin was founded by Jeff Bezos, who also founded Amazon, the online marketplace that made him a billionaire.

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