Judge Richard Hertling of the US Court of Federal Claims in
Washington granted the government's motion to dismiss the suit filed on August
16. The judge's opinion explaining his reasoning was sealed, as were many other
documents in the case, pending a meeting this month on proposed redactions.
Blue Origin, created by Amazon founder Bezos, expressed
disappointment. "Not the decision we wanted, but we respect the court's
judgment, and wish full success for NASA and SpaceX on the contract,"
Bezos wrote on Twitter.
NASA said on Thursday "it will resume work with
SpaceX" on the lunar lander contract "as soon as possible." The
space agency added it "continues working with multiple American companies
to bolster competition and commercial readiness for crewed transportation to
the lunar surface."
NASA halted work on the lunar lander contract through
November 1, part of an agreement among the parties to expedite the litigation
schedule, which culminated in Thursday's ruling.
The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) in July sided
with the NASA over its decision to pick a single lunar lander provider,
rejecting Blue Origin's protest.
SpaceX, headed by Tesla Chief Executive Musk, joined the
proceedings as an intervener shortly after the lawsuit was filed.
NASA had sought proposals for a spacecraft that would carry
astronauts to the lunar surface under its Artemis program to return humans to
the moon for the first time since 1972.
NASA said on Thursday "there will be forthcoming
opportunities for companies to partner with NASA in establishing a long-term
human presence at the Moon under the agency's Artemis program, including a call
in 2022 to US industry for recurring crewed lunar landing services."
SpaceX did not immediately comment. © Reuters
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