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muriel_volestrangler

(106,149 posts)
13. It's notable that what they said at the start of this month is SpaceX and Blue Origin are in competition
Tue Mar 24, 2026, 01:26 PM
15 hrs ago

for the first Artemis lunar landing:

Artemis III: NASA added a new demonstration mission in low Earth orbit in mid-2027 to test one or both commercial landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin respectively. The mission will launch crew in Orion on top of the SLS rocket to test rendezvous and docking capabilities between Orion and private commercial spacecraft needed to land astronauts on the Moon. This test will take place with one or both providers.

Artemis IV: NASA continues to target the first Artemis lunar landing in early 2028, which has been the target landing date since mid-2025. After launch, crew will transfer from Orion to a commercial lunar lander for transportation to the surface of the Moon. Lander readiness will determine which provider will safely carry them to the surface and back to Orion in lunar orbit before crew return home aboard Orion – splashing down safely in the Pacific Ocean. Work to standardize the SLS rocket will be implemented for Artemis IV. With this architecture approach, NASA is assessing alternative options for the second stage of the rocket. The interim cryogenic propulsion stage used for the first three missions will be replaced with a new second stage, and the agency is no longer planning to use the Exploration Upper Stage or Mobile Launcher 2, as development of both has faced delays.

Artemis V: Using the standardized configuration of the SLS rocket, NASA anticipates launching this lunar surface mission by late 2028, and future missions about once per year thereafter. This mission also is when NASA is expected to begin building its Moon base.

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/esdmd/nasa-strengthens-artemis-adds-mission-refines-overall-architecture/

Bezos had deployed his billions in support of Trump, with less of an ego than Musk (I'm not saying he has no ego, of course ...), so that probably helps his company.

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So presumably all this at this page is now inoperative: muriel_volestrangler 18 hrs ago #1
Probably RussBLib 15 hrs ago #12
It's notable that what they said at the start of this month is SpaceX and Blue Origin are in competition muriel_volestrangler 15 hrs ago #13
While they cut people's food aid Blues Heron 18 hrs ago #2
Oh, they mean Trump Base bucolic_frolic 18 hrs ago #3
Exactly what I thought. He wants a permanent lunar base with his f'king name on it. Fla Dem 17 hrs ago #4
Whitey's on the Moon - Gil Scott-Heron Midnight Writer 17 hrs ago #5
Why do I keep thinking of this??? sdfernando 17 hrs ago #6
At this point in time, I don't believe any of this will be built. Javaman 17 hrs ago #7
We don't need to waste taxpayer money on a moon base. Jacson6 17 hrs ago #8
good luck w this part- mopinko 17 hrs ago #9
20 billion is 1/10th of an Iran War Supplemental maxsolomon 16 hrs ago #10
Soon the Trump Administration will announce they have won the war on the moon without anyone's help. twodogsbarking 16 hrs ago #11
An orbital moon base was a dumb idea anyway. LudwigPastorius 13 hrs ago #14
We, the People of the United States of America.... SergeStorms 13 hrs ago #15
In space, no one can hear you rant DBoon 13 hrs ago #16
Such a waste of money. Owl 13 hrs ago #17
20B? ROFLMAO!! Add another zero onto that and it still might not be enough Bengus81 12 hrs ago #18
It'll only be "semi-habitable". That's a major cost saving there. muriel_volestrangler 12 hrs ago #19
It's a Hail Mary... hunter 9 hrs ago #20
Oh hell no! oasis 8 hrs ago #21
Very good news mostly Yeller 8 hrs ago #22
I miss you already. Orrex 7 hrs ago #23
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