NASA laid out the next milestones for SpaceXSI’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon as the race to land astronauts heats up.
The plan
- Artemis III is targeted for Q3 2027. Four astronauts in Orion will dock in low Earth orbit with test versions of both landers.
- That will help NASA choose which lander carries crew to the surface on Artemis IV, targeted for early 2028.
- Demonstrations through early 2028 include orbital refueling and uncrewed lunar landings.
- Starship’s list includes a V3 booster catch, the first-ever Ship catch, a first Florida launch and finishing the lunar crew cabin build.
- For Artemis III, Starship flies a lightly modified V3 upper stage with a docking system, but no crew cabin.
My take
Two landers competing to bring people back to the Moon for the first time since 1972. Let’s go.
Have a blessed day! And Happy Hacking!
