Lockheed Martin Corp. secured a contract to build NASA's Orion spacecraft for up to 12 Artemis missions, including the plan to send the first woman and the next man on the moon by 2024.
The Orion Production and Operations Contract accounts for an indefinite delivery and quantity, with the commitment to order at least six and maximum 12 Orion spacecraft that can be ordered through Sept. 30, 2030.
NASA is ordering three Orion spacecraft for $2.7 billion and plans to order three capsules in fiscal 2022 for $1.9 billion.
The Orion program allows spacecraft reusability for significant cost-saving for the agency and a sustainable presence on the moon. Orion is a state-of-the-art spacecraft, especially designed for deep space missions with astronauts, said NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine.
