NASA to rehearse SpaceX and Blue Origin Moon landers during Artemis III in 2027

During the Artemis III mission in 2027, Orion astronauts will rendezvous and dock separately with prototype lunar landers from both SpaceX and Blue Origin. The ambitious orbital rehearsal is designed to test the complex maneuvers required for future crewed Moon landings. The exercise represents an unusually thorough preparation ahead of NASA's planned return of astronauts to the lunar surface.