NASA has updated its Artemis program roadmap, scheduling the first crewed lunar landing for 2028. The Artemis III mission, a demonstration flight involving docking tests near Earth, is slated for summer 2027.
The revised SpaceX Starship plan involves refueling the lander in low Earth orbit before docking with the Orion spacecraft. While NASA's safety panel estimates 22 tanker launches are required for refueling, Elon Musk suggests six to eight launches are sufficient.
Blue Origin has adjusted its approach for the Blue Moon lander, eliminating the need for in-space refueling. The company plans to use three transfer stages launched by the New Glenn rocket to transport the module to the Moon.
NASA is exploring docking options for the Blue Moon lander in low lunar orbit to reduce fuel consumption. To support this, the agency is collaborating with United Launch Alliance to develop an extended version of the Centaur V upper stage.
