NASA's Artemis Program and Blue Origin's Power Tower Announced
Quick Look
- NASA's Artemis program for lunar exploration will begin with Artemis I in 2022, continue with Artemis II in 2026, Artemis III in 2027, and Artemis IV in 2028.
- Blue Origin developed the solar panel system called Power Tower for NASA's Moon base and announced that it can provide more than 10 kW of power and extend up to 20 meters.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
NASA's Artemis program aims to restart manned Moon missions. Blue Origin is a private space company founded by Jeff Bezos.
NASA's programs on the Moon started with Artemis I in 2022, continued with Artemis II in 2026, and is planned to continue with Artemis III in 2027 and Artemis IV in 2028.
Blue Origin, the space company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, also developed the Power Tower for use in NASA's planned Moon base operations. Power Tower was developed for the electricity requirement of the Moon Base, which is planned to be built on the south pole of the Moon, during this installation phase.
Power Tower, a solar panel system, opens vertically and reaches a height of approximately 20 meters while providing more than 10 kilowatts of power.
"The modular architecture will support future surface networks, extending power beyond the lander to the parts that need it most," Blue Origin's statement said.
Open Questions
- When will full production and distribution of Power Tower begin?
- What is the cost of this system and who will finance it?
