Lockheed Martin received $1.99 billion to produce three Orion spacecraft for Artemis 6-8 lunar missions

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has signed a new contract with Lockheed Martin to produce an additional batch of Orion spacecraft.

Here's What We Know

NASA has ordered from Lockheed Martin at once three spacecraft. They will be used in the missions Artemis 6, Artemis 7 and Artemis 8. A statement to this effect was made by the American company on its official website. The press release does not mention the amount of the contract, but U.S. media report $1.99 billion.

Lockheed Martin has already produced two Orion spacecraft for NASA. One of them may be launched into space by the end of this year, along with a rocket Space Launch System. It should circumnavigate the Moon and return to Earth.

The American manufacturer is already assembling Orion for Artemis 2 and Artemis 3, and began building vehicles for the fourth and fifth lunar missions. NASA plans to order six spacecraft in the future.

Source: Lockheed Martin

Image: Lockheed Martin