[Discuss] Artemis III (Orion/HLS in LEO)

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Author	Topic: [Discuss] Artemis III (Orion/HLS in LEO)
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 56347 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 04-11-2026 09:54 AM Please use this topic to discuss NASA's Artemis III mission, an Earth orbit rendezvous mission between the Orion spacecraft and available human landing systems.
Space Cadet Carl Member Posts: 311 From: Lake Orion, MI Registered: Feb 2006	posted 04-11-2026 09:58 AM Has anybody seen any solid evidence that the crewed versions of SpaceX Starship or Blue Origin's Blue Moon will be anywhere remotely close to being ready to test next year on Artemis 3? I haven't seen one single photo or read one article about the actual vehicles for Artemis 3 being fabricated or being on schedule for launch. Has anybody seen either vehicle actually under construction?
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 56347 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 04-11-2026 11:44 AM I believe both companies are focusing on test vehicles at the present before starting fabrication of the flight article. Blue Origin just completed vacuum tests of its Mark I lunar lander that they plan to send to the moon later this year. That vehicle is going to test tank designs and avionics to be incorporated into the larger Mark II that is their Artemis HLS (human landing system). The company also is pulling from its New Shepard team for life support and cabin design development. SpaceX is about 4 to 6 weeks away from flying its first third-generation Starship, the model that will become the Artemis HLS. It has a separate division working on life support and cabin design for the crewed version.
perineau Member Posts: 433 From: FRANCE Registered: Jul 2007	posted 04-11-2026 01:05 PM And either one will be ready for a manned test flight in Earth orbit next year (as per the NASA timeline)?
Space Cadet Carl Member Posts: 311 From: Lake Orion, MI Registered: Feb 2006	posted 04-11-2026 02:08 PM Thank you so much, Robert for the quick reply. It sounds like a lot is happening later this year at both SpaceX and Blue Origin. I also have to keep reminding myself that today is not the 1960's, when we had 400,000 people and three percent of our total national budget going toward Apollo.
SpaceAngel Member Posts: 607 From: Maryland Registered: May 2010	posted 04-12-2026 12:20 PM Should we or not discount the possibility of naming the crew of Artemis III sometime late this year?

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