NASA outlines three-rocket sequence for 2028 lunar landing prep

NASA released the operational concept for the Artemis III mission on Oct. 23, detailing a complex multi-rocket campaign designed to test commercial lunar landers in Earth orbit. The agency presented the plan during a two-hour press conference at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Program manager Jeremy Parsons described the effort as involving three of the world's most powerful rockets and likely the most complicated launch campaign undertaken to date.

The sequence relies on three distinct launch vehicles from the Florida Space Coast. Blue Origin's New Glenn will launch first, carrying the Blue Moon lander into low Earth orbit. NASA's Space Launch System will follow, placing the four-person crew aboard the Orion capsule. The crew consists of NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, Andre Douglas, and Frank Rubio, along with European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano.

Orion will initially enter a highly elliptical orbit ranging from 18 miles to 1,122 miles in altitude. Parsons explained that the capsule must adjust to an orbit of approximately 345 miles to ensure thermal stability. This adjustment is necessary because Orion was designed for deep space, where the thermal environment differs from that of low Earth orbit.

The crew will spend the first two days inspecting Orion systems. On Flight Day 3, the capsule will rendezvous with the Blue Moon lander at an altitude of 273 miles. The two vehicles will remain docked for two days while the crew opens the hatch and evaluates the lander's environmental controls and life support systems. Engineers will also test emergency scenarios and dual-vehicle control protocols.

SpaceX's Starship is scheduled to launch around Flight Day 6 with a specialized docking adapter attached to its nose. The 171-foot upper stage will meet Orion on Flight Day 8 at an altitude of 237 miles. This encounter will last approximately two hours, and the crew will not enter the Starship vehicle. Parsons stated that the docking maneuver will provide data on docking forces and vehicle interaction.

Following the undocking from Starship, the mission will continue for six to nine additional days before an ocean splashdown. The nominal duration is 14 days, though the timeline could extend to 17 days. The crew will evaluate survival suits, which were not tested during the April Artemis II flyby, and conduct health assessments and technology demonstrations.

The data collected will inform Artemis IV, a mission planned for 2028 that aims to land astronauts near the moon's south pole. This would be the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. NASA has not yet selected which lander will fly that mission. Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency is preserving options to give both commercial partners the best chance at readiness. He noted that the agency has no intention of surrendering a viable path to the surface before data and schedules compel a decision.

The two companies have proposed different profiles for the 2028 landing. With Blue Origin, Orion would meet the lander in lunar orbit. With SpaceX, Starship would likely dock with the capsule in Earth orbit and propel it toward the moon. The launch date for Artemis III remains undetermined. NASA is targeting summer 2027, but Isaacman told employees in a memo last month that the mission is approximately 90 days behind schedule. Parsons identified the lunar lander supply chain as a major challenge, though both executives expressed confidence in resolving the issues.