NASA sets up SpaceX–Blue Origin docking test before lunar lander choice
NASA still plans to launch Artemis III next summer for an Earth-orbit docking test with lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin. Artemis IV, the first crewed moon landing since Apollo, is targeted for 2028, and NASA has not yet chosen which company’s lander will be used. The agency says it is accelerating work and will launch both landers for docking practice before making that decision.
NASA says Artemis III remains scheduled for next summer, when four astronauts will practice docking in Earth orbit with landers supplied by SpaceX and Blue Origin. The Orion crew—three from NASA and one from Italy—would link first with Blue Origin’s vehicle, then SpaceX’s, during a mission requiring three rapid Cape Canaveral launches.
Artemis IV, intended to put astronauts on the moon for the first time after Apollo, is set for 2028; NASA has not picked either company yet. Officials also mention progress on a south-pole outpost, an initial launch by year’s end, and simpler suits for the first moonwalkers.
The timetable could shape public expectations about lunar exploration and may affect aerospace contractors, suppliers, launch-site communities, and investors through hiring, contracts, and market sentiment. It may also influence students’ and researchers’ interest in space careers, while delays or cost overruns could temper confidence in public-private partnerships.