Blue Origin Readies 15-Foot Blue Moon Mockup for Artemis Training as NASA Eyes 2027 Mission
Updated
Updated · Space.com · May 13
Blue Origin Readies 15-Foot Blue Moon Mockup for Artemis Training as NASA Eyes 2027 Mission
4 articles · Updated · Space.com · May 13
A full-scale Blue Moon Mark 2 crew-cabin mockup is now operational at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, giving Artemis crews a new training station beside the Orion simulator.
NASA said the model will let astronauts rehearse transfers from Orion to the lunar lander and provide design feedback as Blue Origin continues developing the flight version.
Blue Moon is one of two Human Landing System vehicles for Artemis 3, now slated for late 2027, but both it and SpaceX’s Starship still face development delays.
Before carrying astronauts, each lander must demonstrate on-orbit refueling and cryogenic propellant storage, then complete an uncrewed lunar landing and return to orbit.
Blue Origin’s smaller Blue Moon MK1 cargo lander has finished vacuum testing and is targeted for an uncrewed moon mission later this year, pending New Glenn investigation work.
Can Blue Origin or SpaceX master the unproven refueling technology needed for a 2028 lunar landing?
With no rescue plan for stranded astronauts, how will Artemis missions guarantee crew survival on the moon?
As NASA's moon ambitions accelerate, how will the agency reconcile its goals with proposed deep budget cuts?
Artemis 2028: Blue Moon Lander, Revised Mission Timeline, and the Race for Lunar Leadership
Overview
The deployment of Blue Origin’s full-scale Blue Moon Mark 2 (MK2) crew cabin mockup at NASA’s Space Vehicle Mockup Facility marks a major step in advancing astronaut training and improving lunar lander design. NASA uses this mockup to gather important feedback, which directly informs Blue Origin’s ongoing development of the actual MK2 lander. This collaborative process ensures the final lander will meet astronaut needs and operate efficiently. By allowing astronauts to practice complex lunar mission procedures in a realistic environment, the mockup helps optimize both safety and mission success long before the lander travels to the Moon.