Science · 2026-10-24 · Morning briefing

NASA sets 14-day orbital contest for moon lander

NASA has reconfigured its Artemis III mission from a lunar landing into a 14-day orbital competition. Scheduled for summer 2027, the mission will serve as a tiebreaker between SpaceX and Blue Origin to determine which company's lander will be used for the first crewed lunar surface trip, now slated for 2028 under the Artemis IV mission.

The complex sequence involves Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander launching first. NASA's Orion capsule, launched on a modified Space Launch System rocket stripped of its upper stage for the low-Earth orbit flight, will then dock with it for two days of systems testing. On day six, SpaceX's Starship will launch, prompting Orion to detach and perform a separate, two-hour docking test with the second vehicle.

Astronauts will not enter Starship during the brief test. Beyond the docking manoeuvres, the mission will collect vital data on crew health to reduce risks for future landings. Both providers face hurdles before 2027: Blue Origin hopes to resume launches of its New Glenn rocket in November following an explosion in May, while SpaceX plans another Starship test next month.

Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.

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• NASA's lunar lander race: Starship and Blue Moon prepare for Artemis III and IV
• NASA reveals new timeline for Artemis 3 mission and 14-day flight plan

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