Mark 1 Pathfinder Mission

Mark 1 Pathfinder Mission
Mission typeLunar landing
OperatorBlue Origin
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftMK1-SN001
Start of mission
Launch dateMarch 2025
RocketNew Glenn
Launch siteCape Canaveral, LC‑36

Mark 1 Pathfinder Mission is an upcoming American lunar lander mission developed by Blue Origin. The pathfinder mission is meant to prove out the capabilities of the BE-7 engine as well as the MK1 lunar lander platform.[1]

History

Main article: Blue Moon (spacecraft)

The Mark 1 or MK1 lunar lander is a lunar lander developed by Blue Origin for cargo transport. It is powered by a single BE-7 engine with a cargo capacity of up to 3,000 kg.[2] The pathfinder mission will carry a NASA payload dubbed Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies, or SCALPSS, which is a set of cameras designed to monitor how moon dust reacts to the engines of landers as they head in for touchdown.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Foust, Jeff (12 August 2024). "NASA payload to fly on first Blue Origin lunar lander mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  2. ^ Kuhr, Jack (6 March 2024). "Blue Origin's 2025 Lunar Landing Goal". Payload. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  3. ^ Wattles, Jackie (14 January 2025). "The next leg of the new moon race is about to kick off — and it could be the most exciting yet". CNN. Retrieved 14 January 2025.