Problems with new Lunar Lander design

Right now, it will only carry two thirds the cargo required. [Link]

NASA’s Altair Lunar Lander project office has started its Lunar Design Analysis Cycle (LDAC)-1 “delta” process to improve payload capability after it concluded its LDAC-1 Lander would deliver less than two-thirds of the cargo required.

The US space agency’s Lunar Architecture Team (LAT) concluded that it required 6,000kg (13,200lb) of cargo be delivered to the Moon. But the LDAC-1 Lander provided less than 4,000kg, excluding the four astronauts it would take to the surface.

The project office had conducted LDAC-1 from 28 April to 1 July this year and LDAC-2 was to have started by now but since the end of November the project office has been working on LDAC-1-delta for the cargo optimised lander.