NASA delays its decision between SpaceX and Blue Origin to take astronauts to the Moon: these are the key dates

NASA is delaying its decision between SpaceX and Blue Origin for Artemis return-to-the-Moon plans, choosing instead to test both landing approaches first. Artemis IV is slated for 2028, but officials at Kennedy Space Center said NASA will evaluate each company’s lunar landing systems before awarding the crewed mission. Uncrewed tests are planned for late 2027 for SpaceX and for 2028 for Blue Origin. SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, intends to use Starship as a lander, docking with NASA’s Orion capsule and transporting astronauts to lunar orbit before descent. Blue Origin, driven by Jeff Bezos, plans a Blue Moon module and a multi-vehicle architecture using three “tugboats” to reach lunar polar orbit. NASA will also adjust Artemis III, sending four astronauts to Earth orbit for about 14 days in summer 2027 for rehearsal of Orion rendezvous and docking.