NASA will test SpaceX and Blue Origin Moon landers before the next lunar landing
NASA is planning a 2027 orbital rehearsal for the Artemis III mission to test SpaceX and Blue Origin lunar landers. This mission will allow teams to practice docking and rendezvous procedures before the first crewed lunar landings scheduled for 2028.
Why it matters
Testing commercial hardware in space is a vital step in NASA's goal to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence.
NASA is preparing for future astronaut landings on the Moon with a major orbital rehearsal planned for 2027. During the Artemis III demonstration mission, crews in space and teams on Earth will practice rendezvous and docking operations between the Orion spacecraft and commercially developed lunar landers.
The information gathered during Artemis III, together with data from future uncrewed demonstrations near the Moon, will help NASA improve astronaut safety and reduce risks before crewed lunar landings begin in 2028.
Two Commercial Landers Will Join Artemis III
NASA has partnered with SpaceX and Blue Origin to develop human landing systems capable of carrying astronauts from lunar orbit to the Moon's surface and returning them to orbit.
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