NASA has outlined different routes to the Moon for its two commercial landers, alongside a detailed rehearsal in Earth orbit. The October 23, 2026 update retains a 2028 lunar-landing goal but replaces the previously shared rendezvous orbit with arrangements tailored to each provider.
Under SpaceX’s revised plan, Starship would refuel in Earth orbit, dock with Orion there, and propel the joined spacecraft toward low lunar orbit. Orion requires modifications for that journey. Blue Origin would instead use three expendable transfer stages to send its Blue Moon lander toward an elliptical polar lunar orbit, deferring propellant transfer.
Neither provider is assigned the first lunar landing: readiness will determine the order. Both must first conduct an uncrewed demonstration. These are development plans, with flight demonstrations and certification still ahead.
A separate Artemis III mission outline describes the earlier test flight planned for 2027. Four astronauts would spend about 14 days in low Earth orbit, coordinating Orion with test versions of both landers launched on separate rockets. The mission is intended to reveal integration problems before crews depend on the vehicles near the Moon.
Blue Moon would launch first, with Orion following after its condition is confirmed. Following docking, astronauts would enter the Blue Moon test vehicle for roughly two days to evaluate its cabin, controls and life-support functions. This tests the equipment together in space, rather than as isolated systems on the ground.
Starship would launch later. Its docking test is expected to last up to two hours, and the crew would remain in Orion rather than enter Starship. Engineers would examine communications, software, controllability and docking behavior.
Agency leaders presented the wider acceleration effort at Kennedy Space Center on October 23. The distinction between the two flights remains important: Artemis III is the Earth-orbit rehearsal, while Artemis IV is intended to make the program’s first crewed lunar landing.
NASA leaders discuss Artemis plans at Kennedy Space Center on October 23, 2026. Credit: NASA/Cory S Huston. Image source; image usage terms.
Leave a Reply