NASA and commercial human landing system providers Blue Origin and SpaceX are accelerating the development of lunar landers to support crewed missions to the Moon by 2028. The agency has redefined Artemis III to include rendezvous and docking tests between lander prototypes and the Orion spacecraft in low Earth orbit next year, marking a significant shift in the approach to lunar operations.
Both companies are also developing crew and cargo versions of their landers for near-term Artemis missions, which will be critical for establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the importance of these efforts, stating, 'We are executing President Trump’s National Space Policy to complete the long-awaited return of American astronauts to the lunar surface in 2028 and establish a Moon Base.'
To ensure safety and mission success, NASA will certify lander systems before crewed missions begin. SpaceX is planning to demonstrate its propellant aggregation approach in low Earth orbit, where multiple Starship vehicles will transfer cryogenic propellant to a depot Starship before it launches to the Moon. This method allows for greater flexibility in launch timing and reduces the amount of propellant needed for the journey.
Blue Origin, on the other hand, is using a three-stage transfer approach for its Blue Moon Mark 2 Alpha Lander, which will travel to the Moon via an elliptical polar orbit. This design offers faster return times to Orion and reduces propellant requirements, maximizing the performance of the SLS rocket. Both companies will conduct uncrewed demonstration missions to validate their systems before crewed landings in 2028.
NASA is targeting two, approximately two-hour long lunar surface Moonwalks during initial missions, during which astronauts will collect samples and test spacesuits provided by Axiom Space. The agency has updated its contracts with Blue Origin and SpaceX to align with accelerated development timelines and support a more frequent cadence of lunar missions.
NASA’s Artemis program manager, Jeremy Parsons, noted that the updated contracts ensure alignment with partners on requirements and milestones, reducing risk and enhancing astronaut safety. Both companies have added development milestones to provide NASA with greater insight into their progress, supporting the agency’s goal of establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon and laying the groundwork for future Mars missions.