NASA has detailed a revised plan for Artemis 3, transforming what was once planned as a crewed lunar landing into a complex Earth-orbit test of two commercial lunar lander designs, with three spacecraft launching on three heavy rockets within about two weeks.
The mission will begin with Blue Origin launching its New Glenn rocket, placing a test variant of the Blue Moon Mark 2 lander into low Earth orbit at about 440 kilometres. NASA will then launch its Space Launch System carrying the Orion capsule and a four-person crew, NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas alongside European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, into a 555-kilometre orbit. The crew will dock Orion with the Blue Moon lander and spend two days inside it testing environmental controls, life support and flight software.
After undocking, Orion will perform a second, shorter rendezvous with SpaceX’s Starship Version 3, lasting about two hours. The crew will not enter the Starship capsule, only verifying how Orion docks and undocks with it. NASA says the dual approach will demonstrate how Orion interfaces with two very different commercial lander architectures during a single mission, and will also test new Orion Crew Survival System suits.
No firm launch date has been set. A NASA memo reported last month acknowledged Artemis 3 is three months behind schedule, with a best-case launch in summer 2027, keeping two landing opportunities open for Artemis 4 in 2028. In updated contracts announced on October 27, SpaceX added two demonstrations of its Starship crew cabin and Blue Origin added human-in-the-loop testing and hardware readiness milestones, while a non-propulsive spacer replaces the interim cryogenic propulsion stage on the SLS.
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Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.