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.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman informed a House Appropriations subcommittee on Monday that both SpaceX and Blue Origin have confirmed their human landing systems—Starship and Blue Moon—can support an Artemis III rendezvous and docking in late 2027. Previously slated for a lunar landing at the Moon's south pole, the mission has been revised to an Earth orbit demonstration, similar to Apollo 9's lunar module test in 1969. Isaacman stated, “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.” The contractors hold multibillion-dollar deals to develop the landers, which require in-space refueling for lunar trips but not for this orbital test. Isaacman highlighted the investments, noting, “The taxpayers are making a very big investment to both SpaceX and Blue Origin’s Human Landing System (HLS) capability.” I’ve also appreciated that both those companies are investing well in excess of that, as well.” Meanwhile, preparations advance at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the core stage for the Artemis III SLS rocket arrived Monday via barge from Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana. Technicians will soon install a modified heat shield on the Orion spacecraft and address minor issues from Artemis II, such as a helium leak. NASA aims for annual Artemis launches to maintain momentum after Artemis II's success earlier this month.
