NASA outlines multi-rocket test to clear path for 2028 moon landing

NASA detailed a complex test campaign on Friday that will involve three distinct rockets and two commercial landers in Earth orbit. The plan is designed to validate hardware before astronauts attempt a landing on the moon. Program manager Jeremy Parsons presented the concept of operations at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The press conference lasted more than two hours.

The sequence begins with Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket. This vehicle will carry the Blue Moon lander into low Earth orbit. NASA's Space Launch System will follow, transporting the four-person crew aboard the Orion spacecraft. The crew consists of NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, Andre Douglas, and Frank Rubio, along with European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano.

Parsons stated that SLS will place Orion in a highly elliptical orbit. The altitude will range from 29 kilometers to 1,806 kilometers. The capsule will then adjust to an orbit of approximately 555 kilometers. This step is necessary for thermal stability, as Orion was designed for deep space conditions. The crew will spend two days inspecting Orion's systems before meeting Blue Moon on the third day of flight.

The two spacecraft will dock at an altitude of 439 kilometers. The crew will spend two days docked, entering the lander to test environmental controls and life support systems. Teams will verify atmospheric pressure, test emergency scenarios, and evaluate dual-vehicle control capabilities. Mission Control will also conduct operational tests during this period.

SpaceX's Starship is expected to launch around the sixth day of flight. The 52-meter upper stage will meet Orion on the eighth day at an altitude of 381 kilometers. This encounter will last roughly two hours. The crew will not enter Starship, but the docking will generate data on forces and vehicle interaction. Orion will undock from Starship after this brief meeting.

The mission will continue for another six to nine days before the capsule splashes down in the ocean. The nominal duration is 14 days, though it could extend to 17 days. The crew will test survival suits, a task not completed during the April Artemis II flyby. They will also perform health assessments and technology demonstrations. The results will inform plans for Artemis IV, which targets a lunar south pole landing in 2028.

NASA has not selected which lander will fly the 2028 mission. Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency is keeping options open to ensure readiness. He noted that both providers are planning lunar landing missions for that year. The profiles differ; Blue Origin would meet Orion in lunar orbit, while SpaceX would likely dock in Earth orbit before propelling the capsule toward the moon.

The launch date for this test remains undetermined. NASA is targeting summer next year, but Isaacman told employees in a memo last month that the mission is approximately 90 days behind schedule. Parsons identified the lunar lander supply chain as a major challenge. Isaacman expressed confidence in overcoming these issues, stating the agency is moving with real speed and purpose.