Dynetics is one of three prime contractors selected under NASA’s Artemis program to design a Human Landing System (HLS) and compete to build a system to take the first woman and next man to the lunar surface by 2024.
Dynetics, based in Huntsville and a subsidiary of Leidos, is focused on providing reusability and sustainability in its design. Its goal is to provide a robust, commercially supported lander capability with flight-proven technologies for habitat, power, thermal and other subsystems. The system’s crew module is designed to accommodate two crew members for nominal missions from lunar orbit to the lunar surface and back, including surface habitation for about a week. Alternatively, it can ferry up to four suited crew members to or from the lunar surface.
“There’s really no more exciting mission than delivering humans to other planetary bodies,” said Kim Doering, Dynetics vice president of space systems. “However, it’s also among the most challenging endeavors, particularly given the goal of landing on the moon in 2024. We believe Dynetics has the recipe for success.”
The Dynetics HLS can be fully integrated and launched on the Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1B vehicle. For commercial launches, it can be flown aboard United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket.
“As a new member of the Leidos family, Dynetics continues to lead the industry with talented innovators eager to solve today’s complex problems,” said Leidos Chairman and CEO Roger Krone. “NASA’s HLS is truly innovative and one that will revolutionize space travel. We are fully committed to this endeavor and proud to join the team returning Americans to the moon.”
Dynetics will serve as the prime contractor and system integrator, working with a diverse set of small and mid-size businesses, as well as NASA field centers. The Dynetics-led team is located in 17 U.S. states and one international country. Major components and subsystems will be built, tested and integrated at a Dynetics facility in north Alabama.
The Dynetics team includes Thales Alenia Space Italy, Draper Laboratory, Sierra Nevada Corp., Oceaneering International, Paragon Space Development Corp., United Launch Alliance, Dynamic Concepts Inc., Maxar Technologies, Creare LLC, Craig Technologies Inc., L3Harris Technologies Inc., ILC Dover, Sierra Lobo Inc., JBS Solutions, All Points LLC, Cepeda Systems & Software Analysis Inc., Victory Solutions Inc., Astrobotic Technology, ATA Engineering Inc., Ecliptic Enterprises Corp., Bionetics Corp., APT Research Inc., Space Exploration Engineering, Osare Space Consulting Group and Tuskegee University.
Tuskegee University’s College of Engineering faculty and researchers will test and evaluate additively manufactured (AM) materials and parts — namely those produced through 3D printing processes. This includes tensile and fatigue testing studies to assess their quality and durability in meeting the environmental demands on the HLS Integrated Lander. Metallurgical evaluation also will help establish the microstructure-processing-property relationship of these 3D-printed materials and parts that have different challenges in standardization, qualification and certification compared to standardly manufactured ones.
“Tuskegee University is proud to join this illustrious team helping the nation land astronauts on the moon by 2024,” said Heshmat Aglan, dean of the College of Engineering. “Our College of Engineering’s state-of-the-art facilities in additive manufacturing and materials processing and characterization have placed us in a strong position to join such a significant undertaking. This project provides real-time engineering opportunities as the College of Engineering educates the next generation of scientists and engineers.”
In addition, Dynetics also is delivering critical hardware to NASA’s Space Launch System Core Stage, Exploration Upper Stage, Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and the International Space Station.
