When will SpaceX and Blue Origin fly to the moon? NASA reveals lunar lander timelines (and an Artemis III update)

NASA has shared new timelines for the Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the moon. SpaceX and Blue Origin, two private companies contracted by NASA to develop lunar landers, are racing to meet these milestones. Both companies have faced delays, and in response, NASA has restructured its program architecture to maintain its 2028 landing goal while establishing regular uncrewed landings in the meantime.

Artemis III, set for 2027, will carry four astronauts to low Earth orbit, where they will test SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's Blue Moon landers. The first crewed landing on the moon is expected for Artemis IV in 2028. SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's Blue Moon landers will undergo various tests throughout 2026, including orbital refueling and uncrewed lunar landing tests, to qualify for crewed missions.

The companies are also preparing to meet several other important goals, such as the first return and catch of the SpaceX booster, the first Starship launch from a new Florida pad, and the completion of the Starship cabin for Artemis III. NASA will ultimately decide which lander will carry the first crewed mission since Apollo, with either SpaceX's Starship or Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander potentially fulfilling this historic role.