NASA to Test SpaceX and Blue Origin Landers in 2027 Ahead of Moon Landing
The Artemis III mission will dock Orion with prototypes of two commercial landers in Earth orbit, a key step toward the first crewed Moon landing since 1972.
The Artemis III mission will dock Orion with prototypes of two commercial landers in Earth orbit, a key step toward the first crewed Moon landing since 1972.
NASA plans to conduct one of the most complex space missions in its history in 2027: the Artemis III demonstration mission, in which the crew aboard Orion will dock with test prototypes of commercial landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin in low Earth orbit. The data collected should reduce risks and increase astronaut safety before the planned crewed Moon landing in 2028, according to a statement published on the Science Daily website on July 22, 2026.
Three of the most powerful rockets in the world are planned to launch in relatively quick succession for the Artemis III mission. Orion will be launched on NASA's SLS (Space Launch System) rocket from Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, while SpaceX and Blue Origin will use their own commercial rockets to send test versions of their landers. This launch schedule also serves as a rehearsal for the future 'double launch' model that NASA plans to use on later crewed missions to the Moon, where the lander will be sent to orbit in advance and await the arrival of Orion with the crew.
The two commercial companies have approached the mission differently. SpaceX will fly the Starship Version 3, the latest design that is the basis for the future Starship HLS (Human Landing System). The 52-meter-tall spacecraft will have a docking system installed on its nose, and Orion and Starship will dock nose-to-nose. The Artemis III astronauts will remain inside Orion and will not enter the Starship prototype. Blue Origin, on the other hand, plans to test the crew cabin intended for its landing system, based on the Mark 2 architecture. Up to two astronauts in orange Orion crew survival suits will be able to open the hatch and enter Blue Origin's test lander, Blue Moon.
Both companies have already conducted ground tests of their docking systems. SpaceX qualified its docking capability in 2023, while Blue Origin earlier this year conducted development ground tests of its pressure docking system. Orion will dock side-by-side with Blue Moon, near the crew cabin, while it will dock nose-to-nose with the much larger Starship. After docking with Blue Moon, Orion's software will control the combined vehicle, while during the Starship phase, the SpaceX test article will take over control.
Before the Artemis III mission begins, NASA will verify that both test landers are ready for the mission and safe for approach with the crewed Orion. Reviews will examine whether the hardware and software meet performance requirements and whether appropriate hazard control measures are in place. Blue Origin's test lander is expected to launch first and will be able to remain in orbit for up to 30 days, giving teams sufficient time for inspection and testing of the vehicle before the launch of the SLS and Orion.
"Artemis III will be a highly choreographed dance with a demanding sequence of launches from multiple launch pads and equally demanding mission operations for our ground and flight crews, making it one of the most complex and ambitious missions NASA has ever undertaken," said Jeremy Parsons, Artemis mission program manager.
Data collected during Artemis III, along with data from future uncrewed demonstrations near the Moon, will help NASA improve astronaut safety and reduce risks before the start of crewed landings planned for 2028. Through the Artemis program, NASA plans to send astronauts to the Moon for scientific research and economic benefits, while gaining the experience and technology needed for the first crewed missions to Mars. Steve Creech, program manager for the Human Landing System Program at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, emphasized that the lander prototype designs will inform future development efforts and continue to mature over the next year.
