Posts: 56638 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: 312 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: 56638 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: 435 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: 312 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: 613 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?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56638 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-21-2026 09:51 AM
NASA video
NASA moved the core stage, or the largest section, of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will launch the crewed Artemis III mission in 2027 from the agency's Michoud Assembly Facility to the agency's Pegasus barge in New Orleans on April 20.
Space Cadet Carl Member
Posts: 312 From: Lake Orion, MI Registered: Feb 2006
posted 04-28-2026 08:49 AM
Ars Technica is saying that NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman told lawmakers on Monday, April 27th that SpaceX and Blue Origin, the agency's two lunar lander contractors, say they could have their spacecraft ready for the next Artemis mission in Earth orbit in late 2027, somewhat later than NASA's previous schedule.
When NASA revealed the revised Artemis III flight plan in February, officials suggested it might launch as soon as mid-2027, followed by up to two Artemis missions to the lunar surface in 2028...
Now, it's looking more like late 2027, at the earliest, for Artemis III.
"I've received responses from both vendors, both SpaceX and Blue Origin, to meet our needs for a late 2027 rendezvous, docking, and test of the interoperability of both landers in advance of a landing attempt in 2028," Isaacman said Monday.
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 3309 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 04-28-2026 09:59 AM
I am here on site at Kennedy Space Center for the SLS core stage rollover for Artemis III into the VAB. Fist movement was at 8am.
star61 Member
Posts: 340 From: Bristol UK Registered: Jan 2005
posted 04-28-2026 01:54 PM
So I guess I've missed something. Either landing vehicle ready for the end of 2027? So does NASA test fly with whoever is first? Or both? Or just Starship and use Blue Origin if Starship fails?
With such different approaches to the landing system how do you design and train for a complex orbital docking and manoeuvring test flight, not knowing which system will be used?
I don't think for one minute Artemis III will fly in 2027 and seriously doubt a landing attempt before 2029. I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but recent history doesn't inspire much confidence. Having said that, was super pleased that Artemis II appears to have been pretty near perfect flight once they finally got away.
Headshot Member
Posts: 1486 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
posted 04-28-2026 02:42 PM
Agreed.
Also, along with the landing systems concern, I have read that the availability of new lunar spacesuits for NASA's current time frame is questionable as well.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56638 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-28-2026 02:58 PM
NASA has said that the new plan for the Artemis III mission is to test one or both human landing systems in Earth orbit. The details have yet to be shared.
It is not clear how long NASA will wait for a second lander to be ready before deciding to fly with just one, or if Starship gets preference given it had the contract for an Artemis III landing.
As for the spacesuits, if they are not ready to fly on Artemis III, they will be tested on the International Space Station.
dtemple Member
Posts: 817 From: Longview, Texas, USA Registered: Apr 2000
posted 04-28-2026 07:31 PM
Before getting to my main point, I should note that I have not kept myself deeply informed about the Artemis moon landing craft. I am aware NASA is planning on testing two versions - one from SpaceX and the other from Blue Origin - on Artemis III. This seems to be a remarkably ambitious goal.
I wonder why NASA did not resurrect the Altair lander from the cancelled Constellation program. Seems it would have been further along in development at the time the current two proposals were initiated.
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3962 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 04-28-2026 07:52 PM
If the forthcoming Starship Flight 12 goes well, I could certainly see SpaceX being able to put a prototype HLS lander in orbit for Artemis III within a year, let alone 18 months or so. That's not the problem - the problem for NASA and SpaceX is and remains the requirement for multiple (I believe 10) Starship launches to refuel the HLS lander for a lunar landing mission.
Meanwhile, Blue Origin has suggested they are working on a Blue Moon 1.5 lunar lander, which apparently wouldn't need refuelling, but could do the landing with the fuel it has in its tanks. That would suggest that Blue Origin has the edge on SpaceX for the Artemis IV landing.
Headshot Member
Posts: 1486 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
posted 04-28-2026 08:46 PM
Not to hijack this thread, but another way to "accelerate" the Artemis IV landing mission would be to use the Blue Moon 1.5 lander and set it down, not at the South Pole area where the terrain and lighting conditions will be dicey and require some hovering time, but at one or two of the previously considered Apollo landing areas.
Rima Bode II is close to the equator (thus saving fuel) and has, since 2010, become a much more scientifically attractive site. It is also on the Chinese short list of landing sites. It would be cool if we beat them there and then land at the South Pole with Artemis V.
The other Apollo site is a bit more daring, but the Surveyor VII site on Tycho's north rim still gets geologists and engineers all misty-eyed. Imagine retrieving Surveyor parts that have been on the Moon for 60 years. It has the added benefit of being very suitable for a walking exploration mission, which Artemis IV is likely to be.
oly Member
Posts: 1542 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 04-29-2026 10:48 PM
Do SpaceX and Blue Origin fly an uncrewed test of their lander designs first, before an Artemis III test is attempted? Is Artemis III planned to be a crew transfer to the lander, do a flight test, transfer back, and come home, or is it a test of the docking and maneuverability performance test?
History shows that it may be prudent to fly the landers first to ensure things like windows blowing out and structural integrity can be maintained before putting people in it.
It seems that Blue Origin is further along in its vehicle development, but this is only based on what information each has shared. If Blue Origin gets past the NG-3 problems and is cleared for flight, do they have the hardware, and can they do an uncrewed test flight of a crew design before any planned Artemis III flight?
Does SpaceX have a design locked in enough to do an uncrewed test flight of hardware that resembles their finalised lander design between now and any planned Artemis III launch?
star61 Member
Posts: 340 From: Bristol UK Registered: Jan 2005
posted 04-30-2026 03:48 AM
I have also been wondering about crew assignments. Presumably , the crew that flies Starship will be different from the crew that flies Blue Moon. I envisage two Artemis III crews in parallel training with final assignment when the landing vehicle is confirmed.
In someways it feels like the old days of military flight testing in the heady days of the 50s, with new jets coming through rapidly. At least that may have been the objective with competing companies using different concepts. I don't, however, think it has transferred well to spaceflight. It's the flight cadence problem and available crews. I think we may well end up with Artemis III, IV, V before a landing.
For Apollo the concept of all up testing got them to the goal of a landing before 1970. However, they knew exactly what vehicles were part of the system years before.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56638 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-30-2026 09:35 AM
At this point, NASA has not given any indication of there being two crews selected for Artemis III.
The agency has provided very little information with regards to the flight profile and objectives for the mission. All that has been confirmed is that it will be an Earth orbit mission with one or two of the human landing system vehicles to test rendezvous and docking techniques.
There has been no mention of the Artemis III crew entering the lander(s), or the lander(s) being anything more than a target for Orion.
Blue Origin is preparing to launch its Mark 1 Blue Moon lander to land on the moon later this year. Its Mark 2 will be used to land humans and the vehicle that flies on Artemis III is expected to be closer to a Mark 2 than a Mark 1.
Both Blue Origin and SpaceX have said they plan an uncrewed moon landing with their human-rated HLS before Artemis IV flies.
SpaceAngel Member
Posts: 613 From: Maryland Registered: May 2010
posted 05-03-2026 11:09 AM
Is it true that the launch has been pushed to late 2027; if so, what's the reason?
Tom Member
Posts: 1804 From: New York Registered: Nov 2000
posted 05-03-2026 11:18 AM
If I were to guess, I would say it was lander(s) related.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56638 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-03-2026 12:19 PM
Yes, both SpaceX and Blue Origin told Jared Isaacman that they needed more time to have their landers ready.
See Carl's (Space Cadet Carl) post above (from April 28) for more.
oly Member
Posts: 1542 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 05-03-2026 11:23 PM
There seem to be many unanswered questions about the lunar lander programs.
What are the NASA expectations regarding the flight testing of either system before putting crew on board? Does NASA or the FAA have a standard for qualifying spacecraft that carry people to the Moon?
We are already in Q2 of 2026. SpaceX has not flown its Block 3 Super Heavy launch vehicle or its lunar lander prototype. The Super Heavy has not yet put anything into a stable orbit; they have not done on-orbit rendezvous or refueling, which must be done before SpaceX can confirm how many refuelings they need to do to achieve a lunar landing. How many test flights do they need before they have successfully tested their lunar lander in space, including the life support, rendezvous, and maneuverability systems, before the end of 2027?
Blue Origin is in the same boat and has pulled people from the New Shepard program to work on the lunar program; at the same time, they have announced a significant ramping up of operations. They are also making changes to the New Glenn booster and second stage, which will require flight testing.
Both systems were developed with the Gateway in mind, and now have to modify their approaches to how they carry out a lunar landing. The end of 2027 is probably optimistic.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56638 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-26-2026 05:08 PM
NASA release
NASA to Announce Artemis III Crew, Provide Mission Progress Update
NASA will provide an update on the agency's Artemis III mission and announce the astronauts assigned to the test flight during a live event at 11 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 9, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The event will stream on NASA+ and on the agency's YouTube channel.
Artemis III will launch four astronauts from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the Orion spacecraft on the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. The mission will test critical rendezvous and docking capabilities between Orion and commercial human landing systems needed to deliver astronauts to the lunar surface. Building on the successful Artemis II crewed test flight in April, Artemis III will pave the way for future surface missions.
Headshot Member
Posts: 1486 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
posted 06-03-2026 02:43 PM
Can the SLS/Orion combination be altered to include a lightweight dummy Blue Origin HLS for rendezvous and docking tests should New Glenn not be ready by the time Artemis III flies?
posted 04-11-2026 09:54 AM
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