Washington (AFP)

The US space agency on Monday allocated nearly $ 3 billion to Lockheed Martin to build three Orion capsules, which will allow American astronauts to return to the moon by 2024.

The contract announced Monday by NASA and Lockheed Martin provides a first tranche of three capsules for $ 2.7 billion, for missions Artemis - back on the moon - III to V. Each of the capsules can carry four astronauts.

The space agency plans to order three more capsules during fiscal year 2022 for missions VI to VIII for a total of $ 1.9 billion, said a statement from NASA.

Six other capsules can be ordered later.

"This contract ensures the production of Orion for the coming decade, demonstrating Nasa's commitment to establish a permanent presence on the moon, to collect new knowledge and to prepare the sending of astronauts to Mars", said NASA boss Jim Bridenstine.

The Orion capsule must be able to bring the astronauts to the moon and bring them back, it must also be used to go to Mars and beyond.

"Orion is a state-of-the-art spacecraft with significant capabilities, designed specifically for deep space missions with astronauts on board, and is an integral part of NASA's Artemis mission infrastructure and future exploration." of the solar system, "he added.

NASA estimates that the orders grouped by three capsules (up to a dozen for now envisaged) should enable it to save money.

The service module, the part of the ship that has the main elements to keep astronauts alive during their flight, is the responsibility of the European Space Agency.

Orion capsules must also be reusable "at least once".

In addition to the capsule that will orbit around the Moon attached to a mini-station (the Gateway), NASA had asked the aerospace sector at the end of July to propose detailed vehicle projects to land two astronauts on the Moon by 2024, whose first wife.

For the moment, the Artémis program is late, mainly because of the construction delays of the SLS heavy rocket, piloted by NASA.

If it looks a bit like its big sisters of the Apollo mission, the Orion capsules will be more spacious, will have to carry a crew for three weeks and stay docked at the Gateway for 6 months.

The flight of the Artemis I mission - uninhabited - is scheduled for 2020. The first manned Artemis II flight is scheduled for 2022.

© 2019 AFP