spacetoday.net: Senate bill would direct NASA to pick second lunar lander provider

Posted: Sat, May 15, 2021, 10:11 AM ET (1411 GMT)
Starship lunar lander (SpaceX)

An amendment to a Senate bill approved by a committee Wednesday would direct NASA to select a second Human Landing System (HLS) company. The Senate Commerce Committee approved on a voice vote a NASA authorization bill as an amendment to the Endless Frontier Act, a National Science Foundation bill. That NASA authorization amendment included language directing NASA to have at least two HLS providers under contract 30 days after the bill becomes law. It authorizes a little more than $10 billion for the HLS program, but funding would have to be appropriated separately and on an annual basis. The committee did not debate the NASA amendment but the committee's chair, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), has been a vocal advocate for having two HLS companies. It's unclear whether the amendment will be included in the final version of the bill, or how NASA would select a second provider.