NASA has received a full-scale prototype of Blue Origin's Mark 2 crew cabin and will soon begin astronaut training exercises. The development supports the agency's goal of returning humans to the lunar surface in 2028.
The prototype, measuring 15 feet tall, arrived at NASA's Johnson Space Center this week. Engineers and astronauts will use it for human-in-the-loop tests that cover mission scenarios, communications with mission control, spacesuit checks, and simulated moonwalks, NASA said.
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NASA's Artemis II mission lifted off successfully on April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen aboard the Orion spacecraft for the first crewed Moon flyby since Apollo 17. Powered by the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the 10-day test flight will validate critical systems for future lunar landings and Mars missions, looping around the Moon's far side.
NASA is working with SpaceX and Blue Origin to simplify requirements for their Human Landing Systems, aiming for a 2028 moon landing. Lori Glaze, head of NASA's deep space exploration, said both companies have submitted proposals to speed up development by avoiding complex orbits. Officials are analyzing compatibility with the Orion spacecraft.
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NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman told lawmakers that SpaceX and Blue Origin expect their lunar landers to be ready for the Artemis III mission in late 2027. The mission will now test the landers in Earth orbit rather than attempting a lunar landing. This change aims to reduce risks and increase launch frequency.
The US space agency NASA is set to launch its Artemis II mission today, sending astronauts to orbit the moon for the first time in over 50 years. Four astronauts from the US and Canada will undertake a test flight lasting about ten days. Germany provides the key European Service Module for the Orion spacecraft via the European Space Agency.
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NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is set to launch Artemis II as soon as April 1, 2026, sending four astronauts on a crewed flyby to the Moon's far side—the farthest from Earth any humans have traveled. This follows February's Artemis program adjustments addressing SLS delays, using the rocket's powerful core stage and boosters detailed ahead of liftoff.
NASA's Artemis II astronauts have surpassed the halfway point to the Moon following Wednesday's translunar injection burn, continuing smooth progress on the historic 10-day mission—the first crewed trip beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17. The crew is on track for a lunar far-side flyby tomorrow and observations on April 6.
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NASA has completed initial evaluations of the Artemis II mission systems following the crew's safe return from a lunar flyby earlier this month. The Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket performed as expected, setting a new record for the farthest distance traveled from Earth. Minor issues arose with the toilet system, but the crew resolved them successfully.