Jeff Bezos Blue Origin files case against NASA over its Moon contract

Amazon chief Jeff Bezos has filed a case against US space agency NASA after it awarded Elon Musk-led SpaceX a massive Moon contract, reports AFP. Jeff Bezos owns the space company Blue Origin. He has decided to sue the US government over its decision to award a massive Moon exploration contract to its competitor SpaceX.

Releasing a statement, the company has filed a case with the US Court of Federal Claims “in an attempt to remedy the flaws” in how the contract was awarded.

Also Read| Tesla boss Elon Musk reacts to a joke on Amazon founder Jeff Bezos

In April, NASA awarded the human landing system (HLS) contract, worth $2.9 billion, to SpaceX. Other bidders also protested and argued NASA should have awarded to multiple companies and that the evaluation process was unfair.

“We firmly believe that the issues identified in this procurement and its outcomes must be addressed to restore fairness, create competition, and ensure a safe return to the Moon for America,” Blue Origin said.

Also Read| Jeff Bezos’ open letter to NASA offers $2 billion discount on moon lander

Ever since April, Blue Origin has strongly lobbied to have the decision reversed. It filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office, but in July the watchdog upheld NASA’s decision.

NASA said in a statement Monday that it was notified of Blue Origin’s lawsuit and it is reviewing the case.

“With our partners, we will go to the Moon and stay to enable science investigations, develop new technology, and create high paying jobs for the greater good and in preparation to send astronauts to Mars,” the statement said.

Under the Artemis programme, NASA is planning to return humans to the Moon in the middle of this decade and build a lunar orbital station, before a crewed mission is sent to Mars in the 2030s.

Musk’s company, founded in 2002, is currently NASA’s leading private sector partner.