Bridenstine Questions Artemis Lander Plan as NASA Eyes 2028 Moon Landing
Updated
Updated · Space.com · Jul 7
Bridenstine Questions Artemis Lander Plan as NASA Eyes 2028 Moon Landing
3 articles · Updated · Space.com · Jul 7
Summary
Jim Bridenstine said NASA still lacks a viable lunar lander for Artemis, warning the current architecture could undermine the agency’s planned 2028 crewed moon landing.
Two landers—SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon—are both trailing Orion in development, with neither yet reaching orbit or completing the tests NASA requires for astronaut certification.
At least 15 extra launches may be needed to refuel Starship for a lunar mission, underscoring Bridenstine’s criticism that Artemis is far more complex than Apollo’s simpler single-launch approach.
NASA plans an Artemis 3 rehearsal in 2027 with Orion and both landers in low Earth orbit, but Starship is currently slated to fly only with a docking adapter, not a working crew cabin.
The delays have sharpened pressure on NASA’s lander strategy as officials have already flagged SpaceX schedule slips and framed the moon program as part of a broader race with China.
Is the quest for a reusable lunar future making the Artemis mission too complex to succeed on time?
With Starship's failures and a complex plan, is NASA's Moon strategy unintentionally helping China win the new space race?
Artemis 2028: Technical, Political, and Commercial Hurdles in America’s Lunar Comeback
Overview
NASA's Artemis program is a bold plan to return humans to the Moon and build a permanent lunar base. In March 2026, NASA announced a three-phase roadmap that starts with more frequent missions to deploy rovers and technology, then shifts to delivering vital infrastructure, and ultimately aims for a continuous human presence on the Moon. The mission timeline has been updated to speed up key goals, with Artemis III now serving as a crucial test flight before future landings. This evolving approach reflects NASA’s commitment to turning its lunar vision into reality through careful planning and accelerated action.