NASA Accelerates Lander Development for 2028 Moon Return

NASA, Blue Origin and SpaceX have streamlined their lunar lander designs and altered operational plans to meet a 2028 crewed landing. The agency will test rendezvous and docking between each company’s test landers and the Orion spacecraft in low‑Earth orbit next year, before certifying the systems for crewed missions. SpaceX’s Starship will use a series of tanker Starships to transfer cryogenic propellant in orbit, then dock with Orion, perform a trans‑lunar injection burn, and deliver two astronauts to the Moon’s surface for a brief stay before returning them to Orion. Blue Origin will launch its Blue Moon Mark 2 Alpha Lander on three transfer stages, placing it in an elliptical polar orbit that shortens the return time and reduces propellant needs. NASA will decide which company first delivers astronauts to the lunar surface, with the initial missions targeting two two‑hour moonwalks for sample collection and suit testing.