Nasa is ramping up preparations for a crucial lunar mission in 2027, with SpaceX and Blue Origin racing to develop landers for the agency’s planned return of astronauts to the Moon in 2028.Nasa plans to send astronauts to the moon in 2028. However, in 2027, the agency will undertake a complex space mission in low Earth orbit, called Artemis III, as part of preparations for the crewed lunar landing.According to a Nasa press statement, “Artemis III will carry Nasa astronauts Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas, along with European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, aboard the Orion spacecraft”.“During the planned 14-day mission, the crew will conduct demonstrations with test versions of lunar landers being developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX,” it said.The test is intended to help Nasa determine which lander is ready for Artemis IV, currently scheduled for early 2028. During the mission, astronauts and flight controllers will practise rendezvous, docking, habitation and operational procedures.The mission aims to reduce risks, validate hardware and build operational experience before a crewed landing attempt.On Friday, Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to launching the low-Earth orbit test mission next year, despite the technical challenges faced by both companies.“We will not delude ourselves into believing that more time, more money, and flying less will somehow make our work safer or more achievable,” Isaacman said at a press conference.The mission is expected to mark the first time astronauts land on the Moon since the Apollo programme ended in 1972.
SpaceX, Blue Origin face technical hurdles
SpaceX plans to use its Starship vehicle as a lunar lander, while Blue Origin is developing its Blue Moon Mark 2. Neither vehicle has flown with astronauts aboard or docked with a spacecraft carrying a crew, CNN reported.SpaceX must complete a prototype for Artemis III and demonstrate key systems, including landing legs and an airlock. It also plans to test transferring propellant between two Starship vehicles in Earth orbit, a procedure necessary for the spacecraft’s journey to the Moon.Nasa officials confirmed Elon Musk’s estimate that a lunar landing could require six to eight Starship launches, but said the final number would depend on the results of propellant-transfer tests. CNN reported.Blue Origin, meanwhile, needs to resume New Glenn launches and conduct the delayed test flight of its smaller Blue Moon Mark 1 lander, expected early next year. The Blue Moon Mark 2 vehicle intended for Artemis III must also be equipped with life-support systems and dock with at least three boost stages.Nasa has also made changes to other elements of the programme, including the Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft and lunar spacesuits, to simplify designs and accelerate development.The space agency has yet to decide whether SpaceX or Blue Origin will provide the lander for Artemis IV, saying it intends to use whichever vehicle is ready first amid competition with China, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030.