By Ray Stern| Phoenix New Times
Arizona State University and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin company claim they’ll put a payload on the moon by 2024. But they can’t even release the payload contract they signed after two months.
The lengthy delay to release a basic public record is somewhat ironic for both ASU, home to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and Bezos, owner of the Washington Post.
Bezos’ company ignored several emails and calls from Phoenix New Times about the document.
Back on May 9, the announcement that Arizona State University and Blue Origin had signed a deal to provide transportation of payloads to the moon received international headlines. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the parties makes ASU a “customer” of Blue Origin, according to Bezos.
The Amazon.com founder unveiled the moon lander at an event in Washington, D.C., while painting the picture of a sci-fi future involving millions of humans living and working in space stations and on the moon. In a graphic displayed at the event, ASU’s name was on a list of payload customers along with Airbus, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and various aerospace companies.
