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

NASA recently released revised timelines, significantly impacting the projected schedules of both SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System (HLS) and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander. The agency anticipates that SpaceX will begin integrated testing of their HLS with the Orion spacecraft in early 2026, followed by a preliminary free-flying test in late 2026. Blue Origin is currently targeting an initial static fire test of their Blue Moon lander during the second quarter of 2024, aiming for operational capability by 2029. NASA's Artemis III mission remains targeted for no earlier than September 30, 2026, contingent on these lander development milestones. These updated timelines demonstrate a concerted effort to ensure robust lunar landing capabilities through both commercial partnerships.