Live coverage: Kennedy Space Center to reopen Friday

Companies have until Nov. 1 to submit proposals to NASA for a human-rated lander that could be ready in time to carry astronauts to the moon’s surface by the end of 2024, and the agency is leaving open the option for contractors to develop a descent craft that would bypass the planned Gateway mini-space station in lunar orbit, at least for the first landing attempt.

Due to a poor weather forecast for the Thursday launch attempt, NASA and SpaceX are rescheduling the Psyche asteroid mission launch to Friday morning at 10:19 a.m. EDT (1419 UTC).

The vote on Dec. 17 closes out a year-long nomination process featuring the removal and renomination of the commercial astronaut.