NASA has published a timetable of tests that SpaceX and Blue Origin must complete before either company's lander can carry astronauts to the Moon, Space.com reports.
Steve Creech, acting head of NASA's Human Landing System programme, told the International Astronautical Congress in Türkiye that demonstrations through early 2028 will include in-orbit refuelling and uncrewed lunar landings. Artemis III, targeted for the third quarter of 2027, will now send four astronauts in Orion to low Earth orbit to dock with test versions of both Starship and Blue Moon.
Those results will help NASA choose which lander flies the first crewed landing on Artemis IV, planned for 2028. Goals for SpaceX this year include catching an upgraded V3 booster and a Ship upper stage, and a first Starship launch from Florida.
Source: Space.com
