Lueders noted that the Option A awards are for development of landers through an initial demonstration only. A separate procurement will follow for landing services “over the next year,” she said, analogous to how the initial Commercial Orbital Transportation Services awards to support development of commercial cargo vehicles for the International Space Station were followed by separate Commercial Resupply Services contracts for cargo transportation services.
“People mix those two up,” she said, confusing the Option A awards with later contracts for lander services. “This initial award is just for us investing in a demonstration for a lander.”