NASA Sets 14-Day Orbital Trial for Two Lunar Landers

NASA officials detailed a 14-day orbital test campaign on Thursday that will evaluate two commercial lunar landers before astronauts attempt a crewed moon landing. The plan requires the launch of three distinct rockets from Florida's Space Coast and involves a sequence of dockings in Earth orbit.

Jeremy Parsons, the Artemis program manager, presented the concept of operations during a two-hour press conference at Kennedy Space Center. He described the upcoming mission as likely the most complicated launch campaign ever undertaken. The vehicles involved are NASA's Space Launch System, SpaceX's Starship, and Blue Origin's New Glenn.

The sequence begins with New Glenn carrying Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander into low Earth orbit. The SLS follows, launching four astronauts 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 explained that SLS will place Orion in a highly elliptical orbit with an altitude ranging from 18 miles to 1,122 miles. The capsule will then adjust to a circular orbit of about 345 miles. This maneuver is necessary to maintain thermal stability, as Orion was designed for deep space and faces a harsher thermal environment in low Earth orbit.

The crew will spend two days verifying Orion's systems. On Flight Day 3, they will rendezvous with Blue Moon at an altitude of 273 miles. The two spacecraft will remain docked for two days while the astronauts enter the lander to evaluate its environmental controls and life support systems. Teams will also test emergency scenarios and dual-vehicle control protocols.

Around Flight Day 6, Starship is scheduled to launch 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 approximately two hours. The crew will not enter Starship but will collect data on docking forces and vehicle interaction.

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

The results of this trial will inform preparations for Artemis IV, which is planned for 2028. That mission aims to land astronauts near the moon's south pole, a first since Apollo 17 in 1972. NASA has not yet selected which lander will fly the crewed mission. Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that the agency is preserving options for both partners to ensure readiness. He noted that both providers are planning lunar landing missions in 2028, with differing docking profiles.

Isaacman said the agency has no intention of surrendering a viable path to the surface before data and schedule require it. He added that the team is moving with real speed and purpose. Parsons cited the lunar lander supply chain as a major challenge. NASA is targeting a summer launch for Artemis III, though an internal memo from last month indicated the mission is about 90 days behind schedule.