posted 10-27-2023 10:16 AM               

Blue Moon Mark 1

Blue Moon Mark 1 (MK1) is a single-launch, lunar cargo lander that remains on the surface and provides safe, reliable, and affordable access to the lunar environment. MK1 will provide cargo transport, leveraging the 7-meter fairing of the New Glenn launch vehicle, to deliver up to three metric tons anywhere on the lunar surface.

Pathfinder Mission

The Pathfinder Mission (MK1-SN001) will be a demonstration mission, with MK1-SN002 and beyond available to payload customers. MK1-SN001 proves out critical systems, including the BE-7 engine, cryogenic fluid power and propulsions systems, avionics, continuous downlink communications, and precision landing within 100 m site accuracy, prior to the uncrewed NASA Human Landing System mission for the Artemis program.

posted 10-30-2025 08:47 AM               

From the Mojave Desert to the Moon!

We completed the final integrated fixed-wing flight test for our Blue Moon MK1 lunar lander's navigation systems in the Mojave, validating our precision landing hardware and software. A test pod, equipped with a complete navigation sensor suite, was installed on the plane for a comprehensive end-to-end demonstration of all MK1 navigation hardware and software functionality, complementary to testing planned in the vehicle test bed.

posted 12-15-2025 04:47 PM               

The BE-7 engine for our Blue Moon MK1 lunar lander just completed acceptance testing. Two 290-second tests exposed the engine to its full range of thrust and mixture ratios to verify engine performance.

The engine is now off to Florida for integration with MK1.

posted 01-15-2026 08:26 PM               

This week we completed direct field acoustic testing on our Blue Moon MK1 lunar lander, a major flight‑qualification milestone.

We surrounded the fully integrated lander with a ring of 34‑ft speaker towers to generate a near‑diffuse acoustic field, matching the New Glenn payload fairing environment at over 138 decibels overall sound pressure level. MK1 ran in a flight-like configuration: tanks pressurized with helium and nitrogen, batteries powering the vehicle, with all critical avionics and guidance systems operating.

43 triaxial accelerometers measured response during a two‑minute exposure at protoqualification levels. Because the lander's vibration environment is driven by acoustic loads, this test replaces traditional shaker-based vibration testing and more accurately represents ascent conditions.

Next stop: Johnson Space Center for thermal vacuum chamber testing.

posted 01-20-2026 02:41 PM               

Blue Moon MK1 left for the port today ahead of shipment to Houston.

Introducing Endurance. Named for Ernest Shackleton’s legendary ship that journeyed to Earth’s South Pole, MK1 honors resilience under pressure. That same spirit of perseverance guides our mission to the lunar South Pole.

posted 02-02-2026 06:06 PM               

Photo credit: collectSPACE

posted 02-17-2026 02:09 PM               

Photo credit: Blue Origin

posted 04-19-2026 09:10 AM               

Up next: testing MK1's launch vehicle separation system and communications system, and performing a wet dress rehearsal of the lander, where we fully fuel with cryogenic propellants. Once complete, we will encapsulate it in New Glenn's fairing and prepare for launch.