NASA allocates three rockets for 14-day lunar lander test

NASA has outlined a 14-day orbital test campaign that requires three separate rocket launches to verify commercial moon landers before astronauts attempt a landing. The agency presented the detailed operations plan on Oct. 23 during a press conference at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission is designed to confirm that the hardware can support a crew in the harsh environment of cislunar space.

Artemis program manager Jeremy Parsons described the effort as likely the most complicated launch campaign ever undertaken. The sequence involves three of the world's most powerful rockets: NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), SpaceX's Starship, and Blue Origin's New Glenn. All three vehicles are scheduled to launch from Florida's Space Coast.

The operational sequence begins with New Glenn, which will carry Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander into low Earth orbit. SLS will launch next to deliver the crewed Orion spacecraft. The four astronauts assigned to the mission are NASA's Randy Bresnik, Andre Douglas, and Frank Rubio, and European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano.

Parsons stated that SLS will place Orion in a highly elliptical orbit with a perigee of 18 miles and an apogee of 1,122 miles. The capsule will subsequently adjust to a circular orbit at approximately 345 miles altitude. This maneuver is primarily focused on thermal stability, as Orion was engineered for deep space where the thermal environment differs significantly from low Earth orbit.

The crew will spend two days inspecting Orion's systems before rendezvousing with Blue Moon on Flight Day 3 at an altitude of 273 miles. During the two-day docked phase, the crew will enter the lander to evaluate environmental controls and life support. Teams will also test atmospheric pressure holding, emergency scenarios, and dual-vehicle control protocols.

SpaceX's Starship is expected to launch around Flight Day 6 with a specialized docking adapter. The 171-foot upper stage will meet Orion on Flight Day 8 at an altitude of 237 miles. This encounter will last roughly two hours, during which the crew will not enter Starship. Parsons noted that the brief interaction will generate data on docking forces and vehicle dynamics.

Following the undocking from Starship, the mission will continue for six to nine days before a parachute-assisted ocean splashdown. The nominal duration is 14 days, though the mission could extend to 17 days. The crew will evaluate survival suits, a task not performed during the April Artemis II flyby, along with health assessments and technology demonstrations.

The test results will inform Artemis IV, the mission planned to land astronauts near the moon's south pole in 2028. This would mark the first crewed lunar touchdown since Apollo 17 in 1972. NASA has not yet selected which lander provider will fly the crewed mission, though both Blue Origin and SpaceX are targeting 2028 for their respective lunar landing profiles.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that the agency is preserving options to give both partners the best chance at readiness. He noted that NASA has no intention of surrendering a viable path to the surface before data and schedules compel a decision. Isaacman said, "We're moving with real speed and purpose right now."

The launch date for Artemis III remains unconfirmed, with NASA targeting the summer of next year. In an internal memo last month, Isaacman informed employees that the mission was approximately 90 days behind schedule. Parsons identified the lunar lander supply chain as a major challenge, though both executives expressed confidence in resolving the issues.